compiled from the Daily Advertiser
by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society
25 Years Ago
- Sunrise Rotary Club Community Service Director, Simon Terry, said the club’s inaugural Garden Festival at the Botanic Gardens was a huge success attracting about 15,000 people from a 150-kilometre radius of Wagga.
- Guests from across the State packed the Wagga Leagues Club Auditorium to honour retired Riverina Health Service General Manager, Nancye Piercy.
- Members of 2AAA FM’s committee for 1996-97 are, Geoffrey Gelding, David Font, Mark Childe, Michael Georgiou, Noel Bottrell, Petrina Quinn, Jim Booth, Allan Norris, and Rod Smith.
- Wagga’s air control tower which was built ten years ago to monitor F-28 jet landings will close at the end of the year with a loss of three jobs.
- Kendell Airlines managing director, Don Kendell has called for security to be installed at Wagga Air Terminal prior to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
- Junee District farmer and former Liberal Party State president, Bill Heffernan was sworn in as Australia’s newest senator at Parliament House in Canberra.
- The world-famous Wiggles were in Wagga for a children’s concert at the Police Citizens Youth Club.
- Cashelle Dunn was the winner of the recital by girls 6 years and under at the City of Wagga Eisteddfod. Others commended included Belinda Seaman, Livia Dooner, Olivia Curtis, Eliza Pettit, Georgina McCormack, Laura Strano, Caitlin Coombes, Tamara Hope and Claire Seaman.
- NSW Cricket has opened an office in Wagga which will used by Southern Regional Development Officer, Warren Smith as his base.
- Miss Wagga Shannon Dunn and Community Princess, Ardene Firth were welcomed home to Wagga by the Mayor, Peter Dale, Deputy Mayor, Kay Hull and Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, John De La Torre.
- Wagga Golf Club women’s champions for 1996 are Fay Baker, Lisa Reed and Beryl Cohalan.
- Mayors and Council representatives from 13 Riverina Council’s unanimously agreed to support a new blueprint for water distribution in the area.
- Design and Technology students at Wagga Christian College, David Crooks, Adam Teasdell, James Mouat and Duncan Rorrison displayed their major works for the Higher School Certificate with design and technology co-ordinator, Glen Nisbet.
- Members of the Broadcasting Association including president of South NSW Communications Media Association, David Font, met at the Commercial Club.
- A 69-year-old woman was charged in relation to a drug haul at Tolland worth an estimated $120,000.
50 Years Ago
- Wagga’s Mayor, Ald M H Gissing was the first alderman elected to the new council after last week’s Local Government elections. Second to be elected was Ald Harold Fife and third Mr Don Smith.
- Almost 90 per cent of academic staff at Wagga Teachers College have applied for transfers away from Wagga due to the phasing of the Teachers College into the Riverina College of Advanced Education later this year.
- Hardy’s Mitre 10 hardware store has opened in Chaston Street.
- The Wagga Basketball Association declared that if Wagga basketballers were not correctly attired, they would not be allowed on the court this weekend.
- Leading academic Sir William Baxter gave a public address at the Teachers College Auditorium on the quality of life in Australia.
- The annual residential school in farm management economics is being held at the Wagga Agricultural College.
- Mr Frank Wolstenholme whose company has subdivided a large area of Kooringal described Wagga City Council’s refusal to consider a development request from him in Simkin Crescent as “high handed”.
- Wagga Artist, Heather Bell has presented a painting depicting senior scouting to the 4th Wagga Senior Scout Troop.
- A youth forum to discuss problems confronting the young people of Wagga has been organised by South Wagga Rotary Club and the Community Aid Centre.
- The Wagga group of Community Aid Abroad is supporting a family planning clinic in Indonesia.
- Wagga Lions Club is running a special competition to raise money to purchase a friction saw for the Murrumbidgee Ambulance Service.
- Mr K V Simmons has commenced duties as district agronomist with the Department of Agriculture in Wagga.
- About 200 volunteers are knocking on doors this week seeking donations to the Freedom from Hunger Appeal.
- Knights Meats in Baylis and Gurwood Streets are selling hamburger mince for 29 cents per lb, Yearling grilling blade for 69 cents per lb and Lamb and Hogget sides from $2.85 each.
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
