Compiled from the Daily Advertiser
by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society
25 Years Ago
- One of the worst fires seen in the district since the devastating bushfires at Bethungra in the late 1980s ripped through the shires of Wagga and Lockhart and menaced the town of Mangoplah where one house was destroyed.
- An estimated 3000 people attended the popular 7.30 pm outdoor mass conducted by Father Wilf Plunkett at Sacred Heart this weekend.
- Shaun Hennessy won the penny farthing race at the Wagga Cycle Club Carnival.
- Yvonne O’Connor celebrated the 30th Anniversary of her School of Dancing, cutting a cake at a function held at the Civic Theatre.
- Wagga police recovered $45,000 worth of goods stolen in thirty Wagga home robberies over the last three months.
- Although more than 500 revelers crammed into Romano’s Hotel on Christmas Eve a $15,000 function organised by Romano’s on adjacent Sturt Street was poorly attended.
- The construction of St Francis College, a Catholic residential college at Charles Sturt University, has been completed and will accommodate about 54 students beginning in the first semester next year.
- Local businessman Terry Phegan has been given the go-ahead to conduct boat cruises on the Murrumbidgee River and hopes to eventually operate up to six boats up and down the river around Wagga.
- Superintendent of the police Local Area Command, Richard Cleaver, has made a submission to the police service suggesting that the former State Bank premises on the corner of Morgan and Baylis streets could be utilised as a shop front police centre.
- Wagga City Council gave in-principle support to a special telephone hotline to be used by the public to provide “feedback on problems with infrastructure”.
- A foundation staff member of Charles Sturt University, Roland Bannister, who retires next month became a member of the Riverina Trust of the University.
- A Wagga driver traveling at 108 kilometres per hour along Red Hill Road was among more than 80 speeding motorists caught by police on the weekend.
- Footpaths are being constructed within the Haven complex thanks to funds donated from the Cecil and Kathleen Toy Memorial Trust.
- Retiring Mount Austin Public School principal Basil Browne celebrated at the Wagga Commercial Club and is pictured in the Daily Advertiser with his wife Margaret and daughters Anna and Kylie.
- A trial 50 kilometre-an-hour speed limit will remain in the New Year despite a move by several Wagga City Councillors to scrap the reduced limit.
- An upgrade of the Civic Theatre is now expected to cost more than the $1 million set aside by Council.
50 Years Ago
- On Christmas Eve, Santa Claus popped into each ward of the Wagga Base Hospital to see patients, accompanied by Dr Pat Renshaw and Mr & Mrs David Kennedy who sang carols in each ward.
- Riverina readers holidaying in Manly, or Sydney are reminded that copies of the Daily Advertiser can be obtained each day from Humphry’s Newsagency, The Corso, Manly, and Central Railway Bookstand close to the country trains platform.
- Mr and Mrs Harold Jones of Niddrie, Victoria have spent their past 20 annual holidays at the Wagga Caravan Park which they consider the best in Australia, especially with recent improvements.
- The current dry spell in Wagga was broken when 14 points of rain “settled the dust” with rainfall for the year still well below average at 16.44 inches the lowest since 1967 when only 9.63 inches fell.
- Tony Dominguez has advertised for sale or lease Wagga’s oldest milk bar and mixed business, conducted by the same family for 30 years at 32 Trail Street.
- Wagga Ambulance has a new vehicle the first of a number to be phased into operation which is fitted with special oxygen facilities and capable of handling four stretcher cases.
- Fatalities on Riverina roads have fallen dramatically with 89 fatalities so far this year which is 10 less than in 1971 and 30 less than the record number in 1970.
- Wagga is dying on its feet according to Victor Allen and George Mitrovic who have formed the “Citizens’ Community Awakening Committee” and now plan to provide a lively New Years’ Eve celebration for the public in the Civic Theatre gardens.
- Supt. F L Keirman, Superintendent of the Riverina Police District said that police traffic patrols are at full strength and will have no mercy for the “drink and drive” motorist during the holiday period.
- Mr and Mrs Terry Van Oosterhout gave their son, Garry a 21st birthday party in the backyard of their home with about 45 guests attending.
- Edmondson’s is selling Lassie dog food, 14oz cans for 14 cents, Maxwell House instant coffee, 2oz jar for 29 cents, and Rosella tomato sauce, 10oz bottle for 17 cents.
Membership of the Wagga Wagga and District Historical Society is open to anyone with an interest in the local and regional history of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. For more information about us and information on how to join our Society visit our website at https://www.wwdhs.org.au/about-us/members
