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

5th August 2023

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

25 Years Ago

• Members and friends of 2AAA-PM celebrated the community radio station’s 17^th anniversary at the Wagga Commercial Club.

• Gail Codman is $50,000 richer after winning the Wagga Leagues Club Super Draw.

• Wagga Christian College is hosting thirteen Japanese students for two weeks as part of a cultural exchange program.

• After more than 13 years pulling beers at Wagga’s Union Club Hotel, football legend Joe Walsh has decided to call it a day handing over to new publican, Rob Harborne.

• Tourism Wagga chairwoman, Kay Hull presented tourism appreciation awards to Wagga Vintage and Veteran Car Club president, Jeff West, singer Jim Haynes, ANZ regional manager Ron Hinson and Central Wagga Lions Club secretary Bill Weir.

• Concerned Wagga residents gathered in the city and walked down Baylis Street to the Victory Memorial Gardens in recognition of Hiroshima Day, the 53^rd anniversary of the world’s first nuclear warfare experience.

• Melinda Murray, Sonia Lewis, Carol Taylor, and Irene Couzens were among those participating in Jeans for Genes Day to raise funds for the Children’s Medical Research Institute.

• Jewell Country Fresh is selling International Roast Coffee 200g for $4.57, CocaCola 2 litres for $1.89 and Granny Smith Apples 1 kg for $1.50.

• Wagga postal worker, Barry Mooney, has decided to retire after working for Australia Post since he was a lad of 15.

• La Porchetta “the Pizza Institution” is opening soon in Baylis Street.

• Wagga has been snubbed in favour of Wodonga as the site of a new radiotherapy clinic for the region with local members Joe Schipp and Noel Hicks outraged that they were kept in the dark until hours before the Federal Government announcement.

• Police Superintendent Steve Bradshaw told Wagga’s Community Consultation Committee that crime trends were down in several key areas but that assaults had increased by 10%.

• Calvary Hospital announced a $2 million expansion of its operations to include critical care.

• Wagga’s premier fashion event, the Golden Gown Awards is in crisis after six key organising committee members handed in their resignations.

• A second Woolworths Plus Petrol outlet has been approved for Johnston Street as work has begun on the construction of the first Woolworth’s outlet in Forsyth Street.

• Wagga City Council is pressing to be part of the Very Fast Train connection between Melbourne and Sydney.

50 Years Ago

• Bernie Weir, president of the Home of Compassion Auxiliary announced that an $850,000 contract had been let to build the new 40-bed Loreto Home of Compassion at Ashmont.

• The Mayor, Ald R Gorman, Ald H Frisby and Town Clerk, Mr W Ellis presented a Wagga flag to Scout District Commissioner, Peter Hains, and representatives of the 1^st Wagga Scout Group as a reward for cleaning up the Wollundry Lagoon last week during Scout Job Week.

• Mr Bob Brunskill of Gobba Pastoral Company was the owner of the champion pig at the Wagga Show Society’s three-day Hoof and Hook competition.

• Kooringal Primary School teacher, Barry Conway has been appointed coach of the NSW Primary Schools’ AFL State team for the second successive year.

• The Mayor, Ald R Gorman presented the keys to the new Community Action Centre in the Esplanade to Mrs Joan Cheney secretary of the Community Action Group. Also present were Wagga’s social worker, Mrs Sue Vardon and Miss Trixie Read, convenor of the Community Aid Centre.

• Mr Robert Johnson is pictured in the Daily Advertiser congratulating his son, Ian, on gaining first place in carpentry and joinery at the Wagga Technical College presentations.

• Trains will be used this weekend to take participants to Ladysmith for the start of this year’s Community Aid Abroad, Walk Against Want.

• Hunter’s “on the Hill” is advertising in the Daily Advertiser that it is “Wagga’s leading tobacconist”.

• W D and H O Wills are screening “Sporting Films” for members and guests at the Wagga Commercial Club.

• The Reg Lindsay Show is featured this Saturday night at the Wagga Leagues Club.

• The new manager of Castles Hardware, Mr Alan Brindley, said that work has begun on a $50,000 project to completely remodel the interior of its major Baylis Street premises.

• In a thrilling climax to the Junee Schoolboys Rugby League Knockout Carnival Mt Austin won their first open division trophy by defeating Yanco Agricultural High School.

• Wagga had its warmest day since 1951 with a maximum temperature of 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit).

• Fifty members, husbands, and guests along with Mr Herb McPherson MLC and Tim Fischer Member for Sturt attended the first birthday dinner of the Women’s Electoral Lobby at the Kooringal Hotel Motel.

• Admission charges for the coming season have been increased by the Southwest and Riverina Trotting Association to $1.40 for men, 80 cents for women and 20 cents per car.

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