Compiled from the Daily Advertiser
by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society
25 Years Ago
- The Shell Hampden Bridge Auto Port and North End Caltex Service station are engaged in a price war which has seen the price of unleaded petrol drop to 77.9 cents per litre from 83.9 cents per litre before Christmas.
- Australian International stars, Joyce McKee and Norma Richardson will not play women’s pennant bowls this year following the closure of the Wagga Commercial Bowling Club.
- Wagga’s new area police commander is Superintendent Richard Cleaver.
- The 19th Annual Australian Beer Can Collectors Association “Canathon” swap meeting is being held at Bolton Park.
- Wagga’s new Vertical Reality indoor rock-climbing facility in Edward Street was opened by Kay Hull, chairman of Tourism Wagga Wagga.
- The Department of Land and Water Conservation predicts that Blowering and Burrinjuck dams will be at their lowest level in 15 years by the end of April.
- At the Canberra Summernats, 26-year-old Lawrence Legend set a new world record, riding a 500cc Honda trail bike at 120 kilometres an hour, and leaping over 15 side-by-side prime movers, a distance of 39.62 metres.
- Maher Street was named as the Street of the Season by Wagga’s Tidy Town Committee.
- Former Wagga Mayor, Brian Allen, 73, died at Tuncurry after losing a battle against cancer.
- A Riverina Juvenile Justice Centre cook was found guilty in Wagga Local Court of harbouring two escapees from the centre.
- Arthur and Edna Verdon celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with family and friends at The Rock.
- The Wagga Education Centre has been contracted to coordinate “Australians for Reconciliation” in the Riverina-Murray regions.
- Tutors from the 11th Annual Riverina Summer School for Strings will present a series of public concerts next week.
- Wagga Rugby League secretary, Geoff McGilvray, does not expect a severe reaction to a proposal to slug players of all ages an extra five dollars to play football this year.
- The kayaking team, Tim Fitzgerald and Karen Turner won the TK2 class in the Murray Marathon last week.
50 Years Ago
- Wagga Beach which has recently undergone a major facelift has been a very popular spot in the heatwave conditions of the past couple of weeks.
- One of the most unusual-looking vehicles ever to come off the Ford production line, a four-wheel drive Falcon utility is on display at Hillis Ford.
- Wagga’s Mayor, Ald Dick Gorman told a Chamber of Commerce luncheon that a $7.4 million proposed extension of the Wagga City Abattoir would go ahead only if it was the wish of the people of Wagga.
- Home gardens in Sherwood Heights are expected to flourish after a successful rabbit eradication program.
- Construction of four green, painted, hot paved tennis courts, costing $10,000 is underway at Mt Austin High School, a project organised by the school’s P and C Association and financed largely from school canteen proceeds.
- Wagga’s newest Real Estate agency, “Peter McCoullough Real Estate” with Peter McCoullough and Wes Russell has opened for business.
- Miss Wagga, Vicki McKay, accompanied the Mayor, Ald. Dick Gorman to welcome incoming apprentices at Forest Hill.
- Sgt Rowarth of Wagga police has warned children against playing in the vicinity of railway lines and against leaving stones and rocks on the tracks.
- The first stage in financing Wagga’s long-planned low-level bridge over the Murrumbidgee River was finalised with a loan of $70,000 to Wagga City Council by the Commerce Permanent Building Society.
- Fluoride was added to Wagga’s water supply 18 months ago and although the full benefit is expected to take 5 years, a Wagga dentist said that young children in particular are already benefiting.
- Huthwaite’s are advertising Globite school cases as the school case which lasts and lasts.
- Police officers, Sgt. Geoffrey Dudley, Sgt. Neville Tamlyn and Sgt. Cecil Rowarth who have served with distinction for more than 22 years were presented with long service and good conduct medals by the officer-in-charge of Riverina Police Supt. F L Keirman.
- Magpies coach, Bill Deacon will cost his new club $3000 in transfer fees to the New Zealand Rugby League Council.
- Veteran Lake Albert spinner, Stan Dasey, is leaving for a 10-day cricket tour of Tasmania and will be replaced by Wagga spinner Jim Pratley in this week’s O’Farrell Cup match against Albury.
- Kangaroos five-eighth, Garry Hiscock, strongly tipped to captain the side this year, has been signed as playing coach of Group 13 club, Tumbarumba.
- Fosseys are advertising patterned bath towels for $1 and absorbent washers with lots of patterns, prints and colours for 29 cents.
- Geoff Rosler has retired from the Wagga Soil Conservation Service after almost 25 years of service.
- Kooringal Pharmacy is advertising a full range of pool chemicals.
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
