In Wagga’s Past – 25 and 50 Years ago.

22nd July 2023

Compiled from the Daily Advertiser by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society.

25 Years Ago

• Traffic on Lake Albert Road has been thrown into chaos following the construction of new traffic lights at the Railway Street intersection.

• Five police officers were called to escort controversial Wagga City councillor, Jim Eldridge from a parliamentary hearing on dedicated seats for Aboriginal people after he delayed the meeting by 20 minutes.

• Traffic was blocked for more than an hour when a semi-trailer crashed through a guard railing near the Kapooka bridge.

• Almost 5000 people attended the fifth annual Wagga Swap Meet run by the Wagga Classic and Historical Automobile Club.

• Tamara Nixon who works for Grace Bros is the only finalist from rural New South Wales in the NSW Young Retail Executive of the Year competition.

• President of the Australian Agronomy Society, Professor Jim Pratley, and organising committee member Graeme Sandral applauded the success of the 9^th Agronomy Conference underway this week at Charles Sturt University.

• Landscape architect, Alex Dalglish, was the guest speaker at a meeting held at Calvary Hospital to address the problem of urban salinity in the Hardy Avenue area.

• Territory manager for Toohey’s Brewery, Joey Adams, announced he is retiring in September after 25 years in the liquor industry.

• Georges Turvey Tops Supermarket is selling Riverina Fresh Milk 2 litres for $1.99.

• Bizaire at 20 Baylis Street is celebrating its 25^th anniversary.

• Charles Sturt University senior lecturer, Ray Goodlass is leaving soon for the US and UK on study leave.

• Lisa Reed and Michelle Sutton easily won the annual 4BBB championships at Wagga Golf Club.

• Jim Gumbleton who started work with Mitchell Shire about 1950 and with Wagga City Council when it amalgamated with Wagga City Council in 1981 has retired.

• Gary and Karen Colvin of Wagga Picture Frames were thrilled to be placed second in the annual National Picture Framing Competition.

• International volleyball teams from Australia and Switzerland competed at Bolton Park.

• Wagga City Library held a Saturday morning book sale.

• Two Wagga men were killed when a light aircraft crashed on a rugged hillside near Gregadoo.

• Wagga City Council is investigating the possibility of improved luggage handling at Wagga Airport following concerns expressed by Ald Dennis Blackett.

• The Wagga and District Family History Society is holding an open day at Sturt Public School with a variety of stalls, books, and historians available to help people begin tracing their family history.

50 Years Ago

• Mr Lionel Treloar, Mr Ross Deaner, Mr Jim Elphick and Mr Joe Schipp are pictured in the Daily Advertiser discussing plans for a proposed tennis complex at Bolton Park prior to attending a special meeting of the Wagga Lawn Tennis Club.

• Retiring president, Charles Houen presented the club charter to incoming president, John Mueller at the South Wagga Apex Club changeover dinner.

• Local member of the Legislative Council, Mr Herb McPherson celebrated the sale of his butchery business to Mr M Culpin and Mr J Eggins with a dinner party at the Wagga RSL Club.

• The 1974 Miss Wagga Quest was launched at the home of Peter and Sue Duff in Kooringal with 24 girls who have been invited to enter the quest attending.

• Helen Doyle 23, of Gregadoo Rural Youth Club, has won a one-month trip to South Australia, sponsored by the Bank of New South Wales which will include attending the Adelaide Royal Show.

• Eighty delegates attended the annual conference of the Riverina Region Guide Local Association, which was opened by Wagga’s Mayoress, Mrs Shirley Gorman.

• Wagga schoolgirl, Anne Tunley won two silver medals at the Country Swimming Championships at Woy Woy.

• Anstice and Mackay men’s wear sale includes trousers from $5 to $14, business and sports shirts from $5 and gaberdine topcoats $18.

• Mrs Ann Harrold, Col Green, Jim Harrold, Albert Warner, and Mrs Edie Warner were among those attending the annual presentation night for the Wagga RSL Anglers’ Club.

• Huthwaites in Baylis Street and at Kooringal is selling Sao biscuits, 8oz for 21 cents, Macleans economy toothpaste for 38 cents and Sunlight Soap, 500g for 32 cents.

• Woolworths supermarket at 214 Baylis Street will cease operations on 1^st August, in favour of Woolworths Family Centre on the opposite side of Baylis Street.

• More than 50 people attended the annual meeting of the Wagga branch of the Liberal Party which saw Bruce Hedditch elected as president, Dr Nick Brandt as secretary, John Shaw and Peter Morrow as vice-presidents and Phillip Goldsmith as treasurer.

• Two safes containing a total of $1619 were stolen from two Wagga businesses, the Turvey Tavern and the Total Australia depot on Lake Albert Road.

• Leagues Club l and Black Swan are expected to finish top and second in the Wagga Darts Association 1973 winter competition A Grade premiership this week.

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