Compiled from the Daily Advertiser
by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society
25 Years Ago
- A song about Wagga called “Back in My Hometown” by Darren Coggan has reached number one on the national country music charts.
- Money raised by Miss Wagga entrants was distributed to local groups including Tim Gleeson from Mission Employment and the Cantilena Singers, Ros Griffin from Lifeline Riverina, Sue Downes from Uranquinty Pre-School, Yvonne Blattman from Micah House, and Greg Johnson from Warriors Softball Club.
- At 93 years “young” Sadie Johnston is the oldest active bowler in Wagga. She is pictured in the Daily Advertiser with Wagga Commercial Club Women’s Bowling Club president, Val Witenden.
- The NSW Farmer’s Association, Wagga District Council, is calling on Wagga City Council to discuss community concerns about the $10.5 million main street upgrade.
- An application to open a brothel at 4 Saxon Street, Ashmont is being considered by Wagga City Council while a second application is also expected to be made in Wagga’s eastern industrial area.
- Henschke Primary School Year 3 student, Benjamin Lovett-Barnewall, scored an amazing 100 per cent in the Australian Schools English Competition.
- Wagga Ambulance Officer Peter Jackson is celebrating 25 years in the New South Wales Ambulance Service.
- Wagga Touch Association’s new lighting system at Jubilee Park was switched on by WTA president, Noel French.
- Robert Cook, Kylie Hockey, Jessica Crawford, Penny Salway and Nicole Eyles were among the members of the 1st Kooringal Scout group who buried a time capsule outside the Scout Hall.
- Aussie bands, The Angels and The Screaming Jets rocked at the Broadway in an event titled “The Barbed Wire Ball”.
- The Riverina Australian Football Club made a $1000 donation to the Wagga Base Hospital’s “Ventilator Fund”.
- Pedestrian-activated traffic lights are being installed in Forsyth Street outside the Marketplace steps and K mart.
- Mayor, John Harding said that a planned 10-year $10 million sewer replacement program has been completed by Wagga City Council in less than four years for less than $6 million.
- Former test cricketer and Wagga boy Geoff Lawson was the special guest speaker at a FrieghtCorp dinner held at Charles Sturt University.
- RSL skipper Clarrie Inglis has a 15-game winning record at Wagga Leagues Club in invitation tournaments played recently.
- Wagga Fishmart owner Con Ligakis has threatened to sue Wagga City Council if roadwork outside his Bourke Street store interferes with trade.
50 Years Ago
- Secretary of the Wagga Associated Agents, Mr L Cox said that two million sheep had been sold this year through Wagga saleyards a record not previously achieved by any saleyards in Australia outside of Newmarket or Homebush.
- Wagga’s multi-million-dollar boom in stock sales continued when Wagga’s biggest ever cattle sale this week saw 6000 head of cattle with a value of more than $600,000 sold.
- Chamber of Commerce president, Mr R Hartwig said that contractors used last year would again be decorating the main shopping area with lights over the Christmas and New Year festive season.
- The David Jones building in Wagga was sold to Melbourne-based electrical and furniture retailers, Maples Pty Ltd.
- The Rector of St John’s Church of England, Archdeacon K A Osborne commended the idea of people giving money to national medical research funds in lieu of buying wreaths for funerals.
- Wagga sporting identity Mr Bert Schmidt has been re-elected Riverina Australian Rules Club president for a second one-year term.
- Popular angler, Kevin Geale, won the Wagga Leagues Anglers Club’s championship for 1972.
- The Bishop of Wagga, Dr F P Carroll officially opened and blessed the Charles Holdsworth youth activities centre at San Isadore.
- Wagga’s first health food bar, “Val’s Vitality Snack Bar” has been established in the Wagga Health and Bulk Food store, opposite Castles in Baylis Street.
- More than 100 guests attended a floral art display to aid Calvary Hospital at the home of Mrs T G Flynn of Flowerdale.
- The Mayor, Alderman Dick Gorman hosted a Mayoral reception for Mr Tom Uren, Labor Shadow Minister for Urban Affairs.
- John Cox, Julie Patey, Anne Kennedy, and Michael Jolly were among 500 people attending the Trinity Senior High School Graduation Ball at the Kyeamba Smith Hall.
- Wagga girl, Vicki Schiller has been selected to take part in the National Barrel Racing finals at the Eric Weissel Oval.
- A special mass was celebrated by Rev. Father V Kiss in the home of Nell Brennan to mark the 25th anniversary of the Catholic Woman’s League in the Wagga Diocese.
- More than 60 people attended the first annual sporting awards presentation dinner of the Riverina College of Advanced Education with Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards presented by College Principal, Dr C D Blake, to Ed Hudson and Sue Granger.
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
