Compiled from the Daily Advertiser
by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society
25 Years Ago
- Executives of local clubs including Michael Mercer, Bruce Piercy and Barry Harris indicated that planned major building extensions and donations to sporting, welfare and charitable groups were threatened by taxation increases announced in the State budget.
- Noel Stair has retired as officer in charge of the Forest Hill weather office after 41 years with the Bureau of Meteorology and is being replaced by John Darnley.
- Salvation Army Officer, Sue McIver, is pictured in the Daily Advertiser counting donations collected during the annual Red Shield Appeal doorknock.
- Wagga Technology High students continued a series of interviews and discussions with war veterans which Returned Services League representative, Jack Mullins said would be used to compile a CD that would be distributed to 10,000 schools across the nation.
- Sydney University presented an honorary doctorate to Charles Sturt University Chancellor, David Asimus, recognising his many contributions including to the wool industry, Charles Sturt University and as a company director.
- Council voted to take $1.5 million earmarked for central business district car parking and add it to the $750,000 set aside for urban salinity.
- 1044 guns have been handed into Wagga police since the gun buyback scheme was introduced in October last year.
- The end of the irrigation season and low rainfall has resulted in a dramatic fall in the river height at Wagga with Wagga Beach currently a mass of sand.
- Mayor Peter Dale used his casting vote to allow Council approval of the controversial move of more than 2000 private letterboxes to the Wagga Marketplace.
- Wagga cricket enthusiast and Rotarian, David Benn has been selected for a five-week tour of Scotland and Northern England by the Australian Rotarians cricket team.
- Local volunteers, Edna Hazelwood, Suroo Wickramaratna and Pam Cattell are pictured in the Daily Advertiser attending a Mayoral reception as part of Volunteers Week.
- Past and present members of Wollundry singers, including Peter Skinner, Sue Lidden, Shirley Jenkins, Alan Swan, Ken and Jan Batt and Mari and Ian Stewart, celebrated a 20th-anniversary dinner at the Wagga RSL Club.
- Australia’s magazine queen Ita Buttrose visited Wagga as a special guest of the School Administration and Support Staff Professional Association for their annual conference.
- Dosser’s Bakery in Mortimer Street is celebrating its seventeenth birthday.
- Erin Hackett, Lauren Poulsen and Hayley Porritt are pictured in the Daily Advertiser with prizes won at the Wagga Dressage Championships held recently.
- Wagga’s largest-ever subdivision, Hilltop Estate was officially opened.
50 Years Ago
- Four representatives of the Wagga branch of the Graziers Association have accepted an invitation from the Mayor, Ald Morris Gissing, for a conducted tour of the Wagga Abattoir.
- David Chisholm won the first annual cross-country event organised by the Riverina College of Advanced Education from a field of more than 50 competitors representing high schools, the Army, RAAF, and Agricultural College.
- A steering committee is attempting to acquire about fifteen acres, ideally at the western end of the Pomingalana Common for the Wagga Stock Car Club.
- Reg Bowden, President of the Wagga RSL Bowling Club presented a cheque for $150 to the National Heart Foundation to Wal Blake, president of the Wagga and District Bowling Association.
- Wagga Kangaroos Rugby League captain-coach, Graham Kennedy presented the 1971 under 11’s best and fairest award to Kangaroos-Panthers star, Jeff Case.
- Members of the Wagga Women’s Bowling Club formed a guard of honour for the visiting president of the NSW Bowling Association, Mrs Bea Vincent.
- Thirty-four debutants passed through a guard of Masonic Sword Bearers to be presented to Wor Bro E C Menz and Mrs Menz at the Kyeamba Smith Hall.
- Gordon Boyd, compere of Australia’s top rating show “Showcase” is appearing at Woolworths Family Centre singing some of the great ballads which have made him famous.
- Former NSW Player, Robert (Charlie) Brown has been appointed coach of teams by the Wagga Men’s Hockey Association.
- Fulham Gardens in Gurwood Street is selling Mandarins, 10 for 25 cents and Apples or Pears 10 for 20 cents.
- Hore & Davies, Travel Service, Wagga’s only P & O agent, are advertising five fabulous cruises on the “Oriana” priced from as little as $197.
- The biggest race held in Wagga, which had 1403 participants, and was conducted by the army over four and a half miles of hilly country near Kapooka, was won by David Baxter.
- Students from the Riverina College of Advanced Education, including Diane Gascoigne, Sue Gillman, and Gail Forbutt “did their bit” for ecology by cleaning up rubbish at the Wiradjuri Reserve adjacent to the Wagga Tip.
- An International Auto Sports and Motorcycle Show is being held at the Wagga Showgrounds.
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
