compiled from the Daily Advertiser
by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society
25 Years Ago
- With several fires burning in the Wagga and Junee areas a rainstorm which hit Wagga was described by Wagga City Council’s fire control officer, Joe Knox as a godsend.
- The Riverina’s roads over the holiday period were fatality free but 517 people were caught speeding and 28 people returned positive breath test results.
- Kapooka Army base is to receive a $20 million upgrade in what Commandant, Colonel David Kibbey described as a “mid-life upgrade”.
- Catholic Bishop of Wagga, William Brennan announced the appointment of Father John Shanahan as director of studies at Vianney College and Father John Stankiewicz as assistant priest at Our Lady of Fatima, South Wagga.
- More than 100 graduates from the Mount Austin Class of 1978 attended a 15-year reunion co-organised by Leanne Miller at the Wagga RSL Club.
- The seventh annual Riverina Summer School for Strings with President, Philip Marchant commending the series of eight of evening concerts available to the public.
- Turvey Park Fire Brigade, Station Officer, Jim Nolan suspects arson as the cause of some of the five separate fires on Willan’s Hill in the last eight days.
- There were 1395 babies born in Wagga last year compared to 959 in 1992. Deaths decreased by 15 and marriages increased by 70 over the same period.
- Principal John Grant welcomed Council approval of works including two new class rooms Holy Trinity Primary School.
- The Rotary Club is coordinating a Camp Quality Camp at Charles Sturt University for children suffering from cancer.
- The former Wagga Post Office will soon be occupied by Wagga Court House administrative staff.
- Bill McLeod, believed to be one of the Riverina’s oldest residents, died at the age of 103.
- Cannons Supermarket are selling Pepsi 2 litre bottles for $1.49 and 500g Coon cheese for $2.99.
50 Years Ago
- Following recommendations from Town Clerk, Mr W Ellis, Wagga City Council has decided to prune back expenditure rather than increase rates in the coming year.
- All-rounder, Stan Dasey will be Wagga’s only representative in the Southern NSW cricket team to play West Indies at Narrandera this week.
- Wagga District wheat yields had been up to expectations said District Agronomist, Mr H A Woodward.
- Members of the Wagga Beach Lifesaving Club are pictured in the Daily Advertiser during a training exercise at Wagga Beach.
- Richard Grey and David Kennedy from Wagga Apex Club presented a new ambulance to Morris Gissing, Chairman of the Murrumbidgee Ambulance Committee.
- More than 80 patrons of the Y.C.W. dance at St. Joseph’s Hall had their money refunded when the dance finished two hours early because organisers could not reach agreement with the band on the volume level of the group’s amplifiers.
- One of the largest crowds ever to attend a private funeral in Wagga packed St Michael’s Cathedral for the funeral service of the late Mrs Mary Joan Kerlin, wife of Mr Gus Kerlin, of Brookong Avenue.
- Wagga’s rainfall in 1968 totalled 24 inches which is three inches above average.
- David Jones is selling men’s shorts for $3.75 and men’s white business shirts for $1.50 in their January Stocktaking Clearance. Women’s frocks and coat dresses are $.99 to $9.00 and white cotton briefs just 39 cents.
- Huthwaite’s are selling electric toasters for $3.15 and metal lawn rakes for 60 cents.
