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

10th August 2024

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

25 Years Ago

• Popular Wagga stock and station agent Richard “Dick” Blake died the day after his 73^rd birthday following a long illness.

• Seventeen-year-old Tim Egan was announced national winner of the Rostrum Voice of Youth Public Speaking Competition.

• With nominations closing this week, 47 people, 40 men and 7 women have nominated for local government elections next month, the largest number ever to stand for election to Wagga City Council.

• Highly respected administrator, Stan Sadleir, who turns 90, soon announced that he would step down as treasurer of the Southern District Racing Association at its annual meeting in September.

• Former Wagga Mayor, Peter Dale has teamed together with retired businessman, Tony Quinlivan to stand in Wagga City Council elections next month.

• Vice-chairman of the Wagga branch of WIRES, Gordon Murray is pictured addressing a training session for wildlife carers held at the Wagga Leagues Club.

• Kennedy Shield president, Ray Chartres presented trophies to David Murphy, Mark Whittaker and Steve Ballard at their annual presentation night.

• Member for Riverina, Kay Hull crossed the floor of Parliament to vote against moves for a referendum to establish a republic, calling on her Parliamentary colleagues to spend money on the “survival” of rural areas like the Riverina rather than on dreams of a republic.

• Committeeman, Athol White was presented with life membership at the Wagga Harness Racing Club’s end of season function at the Leagues Club which also saw club president John Brasier presenting awards to Scott Woodhouse, Chris Cheney and Robbie Jack.

• Member for Wagga Daryl Maguire remains doubtful about the merits of a major sporting complex at Robertson Oval rather than at Maher Oval.

• Rinehart’s, opposite Grace Bros in Baylis Street, are celebrating their 51^st Birthday.

• A total of 122 teams participated in the Riverina Schoolboy Rugby League Carnival at Junee with Wagga teams taking out eight of the 28 divisions.

• Joey and Jill Adams celebrated the 30^th anniversary of their engagement with close friends Terry and Trish McMahon at Barters restaurant.

• Jewell Liquor is selling cartons of 24 James Boag beer for $39.99, Kaiser Stuhl 4 litre wine casks for $7.99 and McCallum’s Scotch Whiskey, 700ml for $19.99.

• Norm Brown, an independent candidate for next month’s local government elections is particularly concerned to see a Radiotherapy unit established in Wagga.

• A Wagga Man caught driving again only 35 minutes after being arrested for a high range prescribed concentration of alcohol (PCA) was fined a total of $6056 in Wagga Local Court and disqualified from driving for two years.

50 Years Ago

• A 15-member board of management comprising of 10 teachers and 5 community members has been elected to control Wagga’s new education centre.

• Outgoing president, John Mueller, handed over to incoming president, Graham Negline, at the 13^th annual handover dinner of South Wagga Apex Club held at the Wagga Leagues Club.

• Ken Turner has been awarded life membership of the Wagga Apex Club at the Club’s annual changeover dinner.

• Mrs Toni Webb, the manageress of the Allonville Motel and her husband, Jeff have taken possession of a Bechstein piano ordered through Palings and insured for $8500.

• Mrs Judy Beck has won the Wagga City Club associates A Grade championship for 1974.

• Manager, Brian Duigan, announced that Lamson Paragon Ltd will donate a locally made copper clock as a prize in the 20^th annual Wagga Drama Festival which will be held next week with 23 plays entered from as far away as Broken Hill and Armidale.

• Frank Wild and Grant Jerrick, both life members of the Wagga Boat Club, are the new owners of Wallis Marine.

• Woolworth’s Family Centre are selling 6m x 4m x 1.2m above ground swimming pools for $575 or $4.38 weekly.

• Turvey Park supporter, Paula Payne, was selected as Miss Rugby League during Sunday’s Turvey Park versus Kangaroos match at Eric Weissel Oval.

• Tenders for the first stage of the Edward Street railway underpass, a joint NSW Government-Wagga City Council project, will be invited later this month.

• Kyeamba Shire Clerk Mr R A Laughton that the Council would develop sites for about 180 homes over the next three years at Forest Hill.

• More than 700 men women and children walked 30 kilometres each to raise $6000 in the Community Aid Abroad Annual Wagga Walk Against Want.

• Wagga Cricket Association decided not to pay ground rental and hire charges to Wagga City Council in protest at these charges increasing by 25% for the new season beginning in October.

• The leader of the Greek Orthodox Church in Australia, Archbishop Ezekeil, will conduct a church service at the Greek Orthodox Church this week.

• A young Wagga man was sentenced to one month’s jail on charges of using unseemly words, malicious damage and breach of a good behaviour bond.

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