Compiled from the Daily Advertiser
by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society
25 Years Ago
- Wagga Police said that a fire that ripped through the Cafe Tuscany building and impacted Kennedy’s Pharmacy in Baylis Street is being treated as suspicious.
- Wagga’s Commercial Club reported a substantial loss of $91,904 in the 12 months ending 31st August 1997.
- South Wagga Lions Club members Wayne Raggatt, Peter Lloyd, and Terry Heazlewood were among those attending the Lions District convention held at the Wagga Leagues Club.
- Wagga City Council waived a condition for 15 extra car parking spaces at the Marketplace shopping complex because of the installation of 2025 post boxes last March.
- Winners of Turvey Park’s best and fairest player awards for the 1997 season were Shane Wiedemann (first grade), Jason Poulos (under 18’s) and Michael Flanigan (reserve grade).
- Councillor Laurie Richardson spoke out against formulating a job description for a new protocol officer at Wagga City Council saying that it would rob the council of funds it could spend on parks and roads.
- Sixty concerned citizens, including the former police chief and Councillor Kevin Wales, gathered to lobby for the retention of police officers at Police and Community Youth Clubs.
- Mount Austin High school captains. Kylie Fang and Michael Byrne cut the year 12 graduation cake at a function held at the Wagga RSL club last night.
- Emily Horwell was announced as model of the year in the Today’s Woman/Viviens model of the year competition.
- Kylie Crossley represented NSW at the National Touch Championships in Coffs Harbour which beat Queensland 3-1 to secure the national title.
- Wagga’s ten-day Festival of the Voice began with a town crier competition in front of Grace Bros. in Baylis Street.
- CSU Old Boys Club members, Phil Norton, Max Staples, David Gilbey, and Jim Pratley are pictured in the Daily Advertiser competing in WriterSports as part of Wagga’s Festival of the Voice.
- At a party hosted by their two daughters, Wendy Golder and Beverley Jackson, Harold and Dossie Corben are pictured in the Daily Advertiser cutting their anniversary cake to celebrate 50 years of married life.
- Turvey Park Netball’s best and fairest awards were made to Emily Winchester (A grade), Renee Stratton (B grade), Brooke Daniher (C grade), and Courtney Cerato (juniors).
- Jill Fleming and Mary Emerson were among those making the most of the sunny weather with a picnic lunch at the Wagga Picnic races.
50 Years Ago
- The inaugural meeting of the Corporate Council of the Riverina College of Advanced Education unanimously elected Mr Peter Hastie as chairman and Mr J F Bingham as deputy chairman.
- Motorists were warned that a radar speed detection unit has begun permanent service in the Wagga police district this week.
- Kendell Airlines celebrated the first anniversary of its Wagga to Melbourne service which has so far carried 4385 passengers.
- President of the Wagga International Club, Mr Bill Van Dam said that 7,000 people attended this year’s Wagga Oktoberfest although “quite a bit” of beer remains unsold.
- Preliminary surveys have been completed for the proposed Edward Street railway underpass.
- Mrs Hazel Loch, wife of Wagga Alderman, Aub Loch is staging an exhibition of 70 of her oil paintings at The Haven.
- Mr Colin Anderson has been appointed Lecturer in Communications (Drama-English) in the School of Business and Liberal Studies at the Riverina College of Advanced Education.
- Speedy winger, Kevin Kane, the top try scorer in Group 9 Rugby League this season received the best and fairest award at the Wagga Kangaroos Annual Trophy presentation.
- A crowd estimated at more than 800 watched three leading American golfing professionals playing with Australian professional, Bruce Crampton in the Wills International Golf tour at the Wagga Country Golf Club.
- Shirley Finch and Nancy Blacklow are among Wagga School of Arts players playing in “The Prime of Miss Brodie” at the Civic Theatre.
- Girl students from Mount Austin High School and Wagga High School played a football match to raise money for the Gumly Boys Home.
- Wagga District Scouts including, Peter Sumsky, Michael Pumpa and Roderick Ghioni took part in the Scouts Jamboree of the Air at Kurrajong reserve.
- Members of the Wagga Crafts Guild Mrs Isabel Reynolds and Mrs Heather Bell are pictured in the Daily Advertiser admiring pottery on display at the Guilds Annual exhibition in the Wollundry Gallery.
- Miss Dawn Ellis and Mr Graham Wenzke are pictured in the Daily Advertiser competing in the ballroom dancing championships held at Kyeamba Smith Hall.
- President of the Wagga district, Save the Children Fund, Mrs Wal Fife, accepted a donation from members of the Turvey Park Brownies at their Sunshine Avenue Hall.
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
