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

18th January 2025

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

25 Years Ago

• A special ceremony was held to officially name the road into the Wagga Airport Terminal after Kendell Airline founder, Don Kendell.

• New chief executive of Kendell Airlines, Ron Ronsalky, said there were no plans to prune back operations in Wagga, home to Kendell’s $7 million engineering base and the company’s headquarters.

• Greater Murray Health Service chief executive officer, Karyn McPeake, said that a new energy efficiency initiative is expected to save the equivalent of about 450 average cars’ annual greenhouse gas emissions.

• Managing director of Wagga Air Centre, Chris Cabot, said that a worsening aviation fuel crisis has forced the company to lay off two pilots and another employee with a third pilot taking leave.

• Strong denial’s that Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party is imploding marked a visit to Wagga by the party’s sole member in the New South Wales Parliament, David Oldfield.

• Scottie and Phil Ledwidge are celebrating their 60^th Wedding Anniversary with family and friends.

• A large contingent of Ulysses Motorcycle Club formed a guard of honour at the funeral of one of its dedicated members, Bernard McInerney.

• Students entering year 10 from across the Riverina are attending the annual Siemens Summer Science School at the Wagga Campus of Charles Sturt University which is sponsored by Siemens and supported by local Rotary Clubs.

• Maurice and Esmae Salmon celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary at the Townhouse Motor Inn.

• A garden nursery is to open at the former Greyhound bus depot with workmen busy this week removing fuel tanks in preparation for the new business.

• GrainCorp southern state business manager, Keith Gill said the quality of grain from the Riverina in the 1999-2000 harvest was excellent and one of the highest grain receivals recorded in the southern state area.

• Police said that a Wagga man is fighting for his life in Wagga Base Hospital after he was struck by a drunk joyrider.

• An 89-year-old man was transported to Wagga Base Hospital with minor injuries after the car in which he was travelling left the road and hurtled down Willans Hill.

• High Flying magnate David Lowy has been granted approval by Temora Shire Council to build a privately funded working aircraft museum.

• A 17-year-old Wagga man found guilty of breaking into cars in the central business district has been sentenced to six months imprisonment.

50 Years Ago

• Sister in charge of the District Nursing Service, Val Millar, called for volunteers to help set up a Home Help Service for infirm and aged patients in their homes and has combined with Trixie Read, president of Community Aid to form a “Community Age Task Force”.

• The Electricity Commission has introduced restrictions until further notice which for households include no more than two lights in use at any time and no air conditioning other than for the sick, infirm or infants.

• Stead’s Farm Hardware are advertising a garden tractor with a powerful 8 h.p. syncro engine and 28 inch cutting head for $740.

• Commerce Permanent Building Society is advertising 10% per annum payable half yearly on any investments.

• A contract was signed with F A Delaney and Company for construction of stage one of a bowling green at the Riverina Australian Football Club.

• The Straw Chook Bistro, under Berrigan’s Shoe store, down from 2WG advertises a new menu, which is the most interesting in town, every day.

• South Wagga Cricket Club president Bruce Jones and coach Warren Smith presented a new bat to schoolboy, Anthony Baker after he hit the headlines recently scoring a great 178.

• Steve Gardiner, Pat Hubble and Wayne Meredith are among Wagga boxers matched against opponents from the Riverina and southern NSW at the Wagga Leagues Club this week.

• Wagga Education Centre executive officer, Mr W T Weaver, announced a contest open to all to design an emblem which would symbolise the centre’s aims.

• Stan Read is the new chief of the Wagga Fire Brigade.

• Walt Disney’s Peter Pan is screening at Hoyts theatre and The Three Musketeers at Hoyts Drive-In.

• The district horticulturist, Mr L K Boorman, said that reports were being received of fruit fly infestations in tomato crops at Wagga and reminded owners and occupiers of their legal obligations to prevent and treat fruit.

• The Wagga group of Alcoholics Anonymous is holding its 16^th anniversary public meeting at St John’s Church of England Hall.

• Dr John Oliver spoke at Henty Rotary Club on his recent trip to the United States where he watched the Australian challenge for the Americas Cup.

• Wagga, South Wagga and Kooringal Rotary Clubs are each seeking two youth leaders to receive Rotary Youth Leadership rewards for 1975 and attend a residential youth leadership seminar to be held in Canberra.

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