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

21st September 2024

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

25 Years Ago

• Kevin Wales who topped the poll in the recent council election was elected as Wagga’s 40^th Mayor defeating current Mayor, John Harding 8 votes to 7 in a secret ballot.

• Michael Georgiou was elected deputy mayor defeating Lindsay Vidler also by 8 votes to 7.

• Governor General, Sir William Deane unveiled a memorial to members of the Uranquinty 5 Service Flying Training School.

• Concerned local business representatives including Bruce Barter, Steve Atkinson and Kelly Townsend along with Police Senior Constable Melinda Jennings, patrolled the main Streets of Wagga to determine how safe the city is after dark.

• Sally Shiphard aged 11 from Wagga Public School scored three goals and was a member of the New South Wales girls’ team which won the gold medal at the national championships in Adelaide.

• After being in the Hall family for 45 years Ron Hall has sold the South Wagga Butchery in Edward Street to Scott Lewington and his wife Kim.

• Wagga Tigers, led by captain coach, Mark Stone won the Riverina Football League Premiership.

• Wagga Miss Showgirl 1999 entrants including Christie Charlton, Alison Newbound, Rebecca Rope and Allana Charleton lined up at the Commercial Club for judging.

• Fifteen months after starting, council night workers on the main street upgrade marked completion of the project by burying a time capsule outside the Sportsman’s Warehouse at 34 Baylis Street.

• Director of RIC Electrics, Colin Duff, is pictured in The Daily Advertiser with an Industry Excellence Award the company received for their waste water treatment plant currently being installed in China.

• Wagga Technology High School Band won the inaugural John Ansell Memorial Award at the recent Wagga Jazz Festival.

• Kangaroos Panthers players, Nigel Plum and Bernard Lancaster have been named as [layers of the year in the Group Nine Sullivan and Weissel Cup competitions.

• Brad Clark, 14, has been recognised as Wagga’s junior soccer clubman of the year.

• Wagga has the lowest residential rates of any comparable regional city with an average general fund rate in 1997-98 of $408.08 compared with the category average of $433.88 or $729.46 for Albury.

• Chairman, Peter Ellicott, said that Wagga City Council’s failure to sign the Wagga Liquor Accord has been one of the groups biggest setbacks in its bid to ensure alcohol is responsibly served.

50 Years Ago

• Ald. Dick Gorman was first to be elected in the Wagga City Council elections with 2891 primary votes, more than 2000 votes ahead of his nearest rival Ald. Morris Gissing who polled 824 primary votes.

• As counting continued through the week and preferences were distributed the next to be elected were Ald Summons, Ald Fife, Ald O’Halloran, Mr H C Houen, Ald Allen and Dr A J Collins leaving five positions still to be filled.

• Cr Ron Harris was re-elected unopposed as President of Mitchell Shire Council.

• Mrs Shirley Lugton has become the first woman in the NSW scouting movement to be appointed as a district cub leader.

• Keith Swan a noted historian and Dean of the School of Business and Liberal Studies at the Riverina College of Advanced Education gave a talk on the history of Wagga at a morning tea party attended by officers’ wives and guests at Kapooka.

• The Riverina College of Advanced Education has a vacancy for a Kitchenhand/Useful and is offering a salary of $81.40 per week plus allowances and penalties to applicants with suitable experience.

• South Wagga Apex members, Brian Roberts, Malcolm Newman and Allan Hopkins are pictured in The Daily Advertiser training for this years City to Lake run to be held in October.

• Lawrence’s Sports Store in Gurwood Street which has been operating in Wagga for more than 30 years has now opened a new second floor Toyworld department.

• Peter Aitken, Kangaroos halfback has been selected as the team’s best and fairest player for 1974.

• A contingent of Brownies and some of their leaders gathered in Kooringal to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the Brownie organisation.

• Hunt’s Food Centre on the corner of Bourke and Urana Streets is selling Kraft Cheddar Cheese, 8oz for 31 cents, Camay Toilet Soap twin pack 43 cents and Sunwhite Rice, 500g for 21 cents.

• East Wagga won their second successive Central Riverina League reserves premiership defeating Cootamundra at the Riverina Australian Football Club.

• Wagga gourmets were in for a treat when Alec and Di Nichol of the Straw Chook Restaurant served barbecued buffalo steaks straight from the Northern Territory.

• The Henty Machinery Field Days are on again and this year have been extended to a three-day event.

• Mr Peter Kohn of Wagga Legacy said it was hoped that $50,000 would be raised during Legacy Week in the Wagga District which includes Young, Deniliquin and Tumut compared to $41,000 last year with 100 volunteers helping to sell badges and manning five stalls throughout Wagga.

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