11th November 2023
Compiled from the Daily Advertiser by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society.
25 Years Ago
- Annette Harris was crowned Miss Wagga 1999 and Melissa Barklem crowned as Community Princess at a ceremony at the Broadway Complex.
- The Mount Erin Convent is now the premises for the new Ecological Justice Centre being developed by Sister Carmel Wallace and Sister Kaye Bryan to educate and demonstrate methods of sustainable living.
- Wagga Police Station was visited by 371 people taking part in a range of activities including finger printing and guided tours during this year’s Police Open Day.
- About 200 people converged on the cenotaph in the Victory Memorial Gardens on Remembrance Day to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War I.
- Members of the Ulysses Club have invited all bike riders to join in a ride through Wagga’s streets to collect toys for children who would otherwise miss out on Christmas Day.
- Terry Phegan launched is eco-tourism business based on the Murrumbidgee River with almost 30 invited guests in the flat-bottomed boat the Anne Elizabeth”.
- Thirty-five vehicles and floats took part in the festival of Wagga Street Parade passing down Baylis Street on Saturday morning.
- Greg Condon, Lachlan Sutherland, Matt Hannaford, and Clint Gardiner created local rugby history when all four tied as winners of the Bill Castle Memorial Medal in Riverina Rugby Union’s Walsh and Blair Cup.
- Racing identity, Ken Kelsall of “Broughton Brook”, Oura, lost his long battle with cancer and died this week at the age of 74.
- Mater Dei Primary School principal Alan Bowyer who is leaving soon to follow on from principal, Sue Middleton at nearby Sacred Heart school is pictured in the Daily Advertiser being farewelled by a year 2 class.
- Geriatrician Dr Guy Fitzgerald and Greater Murray Health Service manager of pharmacy services, David Kennedy are making public presentations to increase medicine awareness mainly aimed at people over 60 years of age.
- Senior Constable Mark Lonergan said that the successful Street Beat initiative implemented by Wagga Police will be expanded if community members are willing to volunteer their time to the program.
- The 21st annual Riverina Vietnam Veterans’ Reunion attracted veterans from all over Australia.
- Co-ordinator of scripture at Kooringal Public School, John Brasier expressed concern about a decree made by Bishop William Brennan that only priests or practising Catholics approved by himself would be able to teach religion to Catholic students attending public schools.
- Col McIntyre was re-elected for his third term as president of the Turvey Park Lions with vice-presidents Bruce Milne and Rodney Price.
- Sports identity, Peter McAlister has been re-elected president of Wagga Wagga and District Junior Rugby League.
50 Years Ago
- The Mayor, Ald M Gissing, and President of the Wagga sub-branch of the RSL, Mr C Knott led the official party for the wreath laying ceremony commemorating Remembrance Day.
- Town Clerk, Bill Ellis said a “considerable number” of complaints had been received about the failure of landowners to clear their allotments as some residents express concerns about fires, the growth of weeds including Patterson’s curse and snakes moving into backyards.
- Wagga man and former band member, Mr Bruce Pinney, is pictured in the Daily Advertiser checking through some of the many signatures with have been added to a petition organised to protest a decision to disband the Kapooka Army Band.
- Joan McGilvray, captain of the Wagga High School hockey side has been awarded a Combined High Schools blue following her performance in the tests against Queensland at Newcastle, Wollongong, and Manly during August.
- A “green arrow” tour has been opened at Kapooka Army Base allowing the public to drive through Kapooka and to view from a distance soldiers carrying out activities.
- National Cash Register Company NCR is pictured in the Daily Advertiser demonstrating to Mrs Patricia White from Hardy’s Hardware a new NCR 399 computer accounting system, selling for around $25,000.
- Santa is arriving this Saturday at Mates with instant photos with Santa available from 9.30 to 11.30am.
- Tolland residents have strongly opposed a Housing Commission development of up to 350 dwellings in the suburb.
- A decision to admit associate members to the Wagga RSL Club was unanimously passed at an extraordinary meeting of the club.
- A group of determined Wagga women have formed an organisation called the Childcare Action Group to investigate childcare facilities and emergency child minding possibilities in Wagga.
- Chris Gallagher and Jean Wright have won the Wagga men’s and women’s squash championships for 1973.
- A large gathering of Anglican women met at St Paul’s Church, Turvey Park to honour Mrs Elsie Long, who for 50 years has embroidered church linen and made vestments for clergy of the diocese and beyond.
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
