Compiled from the Daily Advertiser
by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society
25 Years Ago
- Stage one of the Wagga Marketplace shopping centre has opened with Woolworth’s, Big W and 28 specialty retailers offering a mix of food, Fashion, general and service merchandise.
- Wagga City Council announced that it is selling off its multi-million-dollar natural gas business.
- Long-serving Wagga RSL Club directors, Harold Fife and Stan Sadlier are retiring with almost 70 years’ service between them.
- The Ashmont Post Office and its operator, Ray Siebels were victims of an armed robbery.
- Wagga’s Sizzler restaurant in Hammond Avenue is being transformed into Australia’s first Sizzler Steakhouse with 32 additional staff set to begin work next week.
- Organiser with the Australian Services Union, Sally McManus, met with seven former support workers at Wagga Women’s Refuge which was closed last week.
- Sara Nixon was announced as the Riverina Football League Club, Turvey Park’s A grade netball best and fairest player with awards also for Megan Haynes (most consistent), Amanda Nixon (most improved) and Catherine Lawson (runner up best and fairest).
- Acclaimed author and former Daily Advertiser journalist, Frank Moorhouse was keynote speaker at a literary luncheon, held at the Garden Court restaurant.
- Graham Cook has taken over from Isabel Baker as manager of Caloola Court Aged Persons Hostel.
- Turvey Park stalwart, Mark Meek was awarded the Bulldog’s highest honour, life membership, at the clubs annual general meeting.
- Wagga TAFE students, Belinda Ward, Katherine Taylor, and Melissa Knight took out the medals in the secretarial support section of the Riverina-Murray Work Skills Competition.
- Village Roadshow has decided not to proceed with a proposed six cinema development in Baylis Street.
- Over 35 Wagga athletes competed at the sixth Honda Masters Games held at Alice Springs.
- Andrew Finch has been selected to represent Australia in the full-bore section of the Oceania Shooting Championships in Adelaide.
- Thomas Blamey were runners up to Riverina Australian Football Club in the Wagga Darts Association A grade grand final held at the Bridge Tavern.
- Wagga athlete, Jamin Forbes competed in the World Duathlon Championships in Italy.
50 Years Ago
- More than 1300 people took advantage of a glaucoma clinic conducted by South Wagga Lions Club at the Wagga Base Hospital.
- Managing Director, Graham Irons has completed a $25,000 facelift at Hunters on the Hill which is now one of the largest newsagents in the southern hemisphere.
- Wagga actor, Dennis Blackett was named the best leading actor in the 1971 NSW Arts Council’s Drama Festival.
- The Wagga Horticultural Society flower show was held at the Wooden Street Methodist Hall.
- Wagga Magpies fullback, Brian Maher was presented with the club’s first grade best and fairest award by Wagga Rugby League president and Magpie’s patron, Arthur Dixon.
- Alterations and additions to Huthwaites store, costing $200,000 and including a new two storey storage building in Peter Street were approved in principle by Wagga City Council.
- The Riverina branch of the NSW Master Builders’ Association held its annual dinner at the Wagga Leagues Club.
- Pioneer Express announced daily coach services between Melbourne and Brisbane, travelling via Wagga.
- The Wagga R.S.L. Club is presenting Col Joye Show with Col Joye in person and Lyn Barnett with the Joye Boys.
- John Gaynor is the winner of St. Michael’s Regional High School 1971 Sportsman of the Year Award.
- Terry Dixon, a Wagga dental laboratory director has been awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study modern dental procedures in West Germany and the U.S.A.
- The first Jack Osmond Memorial Fours Tournament was held at the Wagga City Bowling Club.
- Violet Earsman, wife of Jack Earsman, the proprietor of the Grand Dry Cleaners in Fitzmaurice Street, was overcome by smoke while fighting a fire at their store believed to have started next door in Wagga Export Company’s premises.
- A weeklong union drive is being held in Wagga culminating in a Trade Union meeting in the 2WG Wollundry Room.
- Wagga’s new librarian is Miss Ruth Drew who was previously head librarian at the Cowra Municipal Library.
- A Wagga man who refused to take a breathalyser test was fined $50 and had his drivers licence disqualified for three months.
- Bill Higgins has retired after 21 years working with The Southern Riverina County Council water department.
- Jim Creed Snr. Was elected Riverina Soccer Referees Association president with Harry Moreels elected as secretary.
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
