Compiled from the Daily Advertiser
by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society
25 Years Ago
- Hugh Jackman, Darren Coggan, Georgia Bassingthwaite, and Major Patrick Pickett are pictured in the Daily Advertiser all set for this week’s Carols by Candlelight in the Botanic Gardens Music Bowl.
- Resident, Ray Lucas, said that a majority of the 40 homes in the street are participating in the Athol Street Christmas light displays beginning this week.
- Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, Dave Palmer said most retail outlets are recording high levels of Christmas sales, better than for the last two years.
- Wagga’s second annual “Christmas on Main Street” was rated a spectacular success with the chairman of the River to Rail main street committee, Julie Hoy, delighted with the response from retailers and shoppers.
- Wagga speech and drama teacher, Ros Smith said goodbye to what she said had been a wonderful 50-year career at a function attended by about a hundred people including foundation pupil Helen Dunlop.
- Wagga’s Darren Coggan has gained the equal greatest number of finalist positions at the upcoming Australian Country Music Awards in Tamworth.
- Renovations to Wagga’s Book City store were opened by David Gilbey, president of Wagga Wagga Writers Writers with joint owners Peter and Margie Halicki and Jenny and Graham Gorrel watching on.
- A fire that broke out in the early hours of the morning caused an estimated $7 million in damage to Roche’s Gumly Plant.
- After more than a year of searching, Woolworths has purchased a site in Forsyth Street for the construction of a Petrol Plus fuel outlet expected to bring cheaper petrol to Wagga by next year.
- Wagga City Council’s recreation services committee will recommend that Council accept a tender from Wagga Historian, Sherry Morris to write the history of the city.
- Jim Elphick was honoured by the Wagga Tennis Association with an evening and presentations at the Bolton Park Complex.
- Breust First National recently celebrated 30 years in the real estate business.
- South Wagga Bowling Club’s Peter Jones has won the Club’s “Bowler of the Year” for the second time.
- Cr Jim Eldridge said that Wagga City Council should be prepared to spend $1 million on a High Court test case to defend a decision to reject a development application for a legal brothel in the city.
- After spending two weeks and a day on strike workers at the Murrumbidgee Milling Company are returning to work this week.
- Wagga’s new half-million-dollar police communications centre on the third floor of the Morgan Street Government Offices went live.
50 Years Ago
- The RAAF catering training section at Forest Hill baked a 90-pound Christmas cake with a diameter of 24 inches which was presented to the Wagga Base Hospital Children’s Ward.
- Huthwaite’s, Swan Bakery and Edmondson’s each won trophies for the most impressive Christmas store decorations this season in a competition sponsored by The Daily Advertiser and 2WG.
- Ray and Sylvia Wall are preparing their house in Gurwood Street with Christmas decorations despite Ray having broken his leg about a month ago.
- Christmas dinner came early for about 50 Wagga residents with Meals on Wheels delivering servings of turkey, smoked ham, roast vegetables, and plum pudding.
- Wagga Fire Brigade has had its busiest month for many years with 42 fires attended so far this month including ten fires this weekend with Wagga Fire Brigade Chief Laurie Gallagher particularly concerned with the number of fires being deliberately lit on Willans Hill.
- Rosemary Harmon, 15, a member of the Second Kooringal Guide Company, has earned the Queen’s Guide Badge.
- An electrical fault caused a fire which destroyed a $10,000 Mercedes Benz owned by the Bishop of Wagga Dr F P Carroll while it was parked outside Bishops House, next to St Michael’s Cathedral.
- Wagga Rugby League held its 51st Annual General Meeting at the Wagga Leagues Club.
- The Chairman of Riverina and North East Victoria TV Limited, Mr W J Hucker has announced his retirement from the board with deputy chairman Mr G K Dunn now elected as chairman.
- Mass was held for the first time in the Chapel of the new Catholic Mission Centre in Baylis street.
- Wagga Cellars in Lake Albert Road are advertising Christmas Drink orders delivered to your door and will be open from 8 am to 8 pm on Boxing Day.
- “Plum Crazy” skippered by past Wagga Boat Club Commodore, “Tig” Thomas won the Half-Ton Cup international yachting series which ended in Sydney this week.
- More than 20 members of the Wagga Amateur Swimming Club qualified to compete in the NSW Age Championships in Sydney and the Country Championships in Tamworth in January.
- Jim Beech is the new preacher at Wagga’s Church of Christ.
- Wagga City Council voted by six votes to five to employ a social worker.
- Waltons in Baylis Street has a three-day Toy Clearance with lots of toys reduced from 10 to 15%.
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
