Compiled from the Daily Advertiser
by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society
25 Years Ago
- Greater Murray Health Service had a staggering budget deficit of almost $35 million in the last financial year.
- Top-level talks on the future of the Forest Hill RAAF Base at Wagga have been arranged between the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshall Les Fisher, and the Save Our Base Task Force by Member for Riverina and Task Force chairman, Noel Hicks.
- CSU Winery operations manager, Kirsten Munro said that more than 70,000 bottles of red wine from the 1997 vintage are currently being bottled.
- Wagga’s petrol war continues with Bill McMaster at the Silvalite service station reducing unleaded prices by a further two cents to 75.9 cents.
- A flying squad of highway patrol officers from Sydney booked more than 500 people in southern inland New South Wales in a special operation conducted to prevent a repeat of last year’s road carnage.
- Economic factors caused Hepburn and Lovett Machinery to shut down after more than 30 years leaving proprietors, Graham Elphick and Ken O’Sullivan together with seven employees out of work.
- Two employees of the Mount Austin Post Office at the Turvey Tops Shopping Centre were threatened with a knife during a terrifying armed robbery.
- Tom Byrne, who owns the Turvey Tops Newsagency next door to the Post Office is infuriated at a delay in the emergency call that he made reporting the robbery.
- The Wagga to Wodonga gas pipeline, a $50 million project, should be completed on schedule by mid-July according to East Australian Pipeline Authority.
- Local Motor Traders Association Councillors, Gordon Braid, and Mark Hillis met with Member for Wagga, Joe Schipp to oppose proposals to increase car registration fees.
- Kevin Watts, Wagga Livestock Marketing Centre manager said that last week’s yarding of more than 40,000 sheep was the biggest beginning of-year yarding for some time.
- Wagga RSL Club is undergoing a $1.5 million refurbishment which when completed will bring the total spent on refurbishments to about $8 million this decade.
- A fifth breach of a domestic violence order resulted in a six-week jail sentence for a Wagga man.
- Foxtrot Dance Studio staged its 14th annual Championship evening in Mt Austin High School’s Auditorium.
50 Years Ago
- The General Manager of James Barnes Pty Ltd told a packed public meeting in the Civic Theatre on Wednesday night that his meat canning firm planned to decentralise to Wagga if the proposed development of the city’s abattoir took place.
- On Thursday night a Wagga City Council meeting voted seven to five not to spend $7.4 million on expanding the abattoir.
- Member for Wagga, Wal Fife said that the NSW Government would meet the full cost of construction for Wagga’s Edward Street underpass.
- The NSW Housing Commission has 182 families on its waiting list in Wagga with only 14 houses currently under construction.
- A Wagga pharmacist has begun providing a pregnancy testing service despite opposition from the Australian Medical Association.
- Thirteen university scholarships and a university bursary were awarded to Trinity Senior High School students, the highest number the school has won since its formation.
- Wagga swimming instructress, Mrs Myee Baumer is coaching young swimmers including Craig McKell, Vicki Howarth, Anne Tunley, Christine Smith, Jenny Cooke, Tim McMullen, Anthony McMullen, Oddbjorn Ludvigsen, and Belinda Paul all preparing to compete in future title events.
- Miss Wagga Vicki McKay visited major points of interest with Mayor, Ald D Gorman and is pictured in the Daily Advertiser visiting Wagga Base Hospital with Superintendent of Nursing, Miss J Potter, and hospital accountant, Mr Richard Jones.
- A surprise party attended by 80 guests was given for Mr and Mrs Jack McGinn to celebrate their Silver Wedding Anniversary.
- Jenny Tunley is one of the instructresses at the Education Department’s learn to swim campaign classes at the Wagga baths.
- Kaye Hallam of Wagga partnered J Burgess to win the under-17 doubles final of the NSW Hardcourt Age Championships at Canterbury.
- Father and son combination, Hugh and Neil Hawthorne scored 46 points to win the four-ball better ball 18 holes Stableford event at the Wagga Country Club.
- Jimmy Little is performing at the Wagga Leagues Club this weekend.
- Knitting wool oddments are all clearing for 20 cents a ball at Edmondson’s Knitting Centre on level 1.
- Beginner’s Guitar Classes are starting this weekend at Palings in Baylis Street.
- Wagga City Council will encourage truck drivers to use Moorong street rather than Beckwith Street when traveling to the city saleyards.
- Quinlivan’s Menswear and Jean Stable Sale is selling toweling hats for $1, men’s briefs for 75 cents, and hire dinner suits clearing at $15.
- The French Hell Drivers are performing at the Wagga Showground with two hours of “thrill-packed unbelievable stunts”.
- Edmondson’s is advertising Koala shoes for school, college, and casual wear.
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
