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

29th March 2025

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

25 Years Ago

• Councillor Diana Simpson, Wing Commander Rob Schrivener, Mayoress Gwen Wales, Jenny Gorrel and Wagga Mayor, Kevin Wales are pictured attending the Mayoress’s Ball which was attended by 700 people and raised $20,000 for Wagga’s radiotherapy appeal.

• Peter Krychaluk and Warren Blyton received Driver Safety Awards from Finemores Chairman, Ron Finemore and managing director Tom O’Bryan.

• Wagga City Council agreed to issue an order under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act to address concerns expressed by neighbours about the condition of the heritage listed Belmore property on the corner of Trail and Kincaid Streets.

• Professor Jim Pratley spoke on “Herbicide Resistance, GMO’s and all that Jazz” in the first of Charles Sturt University’s 2000 public lecture series held at the Wagga City Council meeting room.

• Stan Sadleir was presented with the Contribution to Racing Award by Daily Advertiser managing director, Graham Gorrel at the Wagga and District Racing Supporters awards presentation at Wagga Leagues Club.

• Charles Sturt University student, Karen Taylor, was presented with a $1,000 Michael Chamberlain Memorial Scholarship by Elaine Chamberlain and the president of South Wagga Rotary, Ken Post.

• Glenis Goldspink has retired after 25 years as Ladysmith postmistress.

• Artist Heather Bell is pictured with some of her work which was included in the Flowerdale View Club’s annual art exhibition.

• Lutheran Primary School Year 6 student Emma Smallmon is pictured testing out the Australian Trucking Association’s Safety Education Trailer which is visiting Wagga.

• Gordon and John Braid are pictured with the award given to Wagga Motors as National Freightliner Dealer of the Year.

• RSL Club manager, Andrew Bell said that a State Government 12-month freeze on new poker machines would most likely have a devastating effect on New South Wales Registered Clubs.

• Veiled threats of possible legal action flew around a Wagga City Council meeting as emotions over an attack on senior council staff by the Ratepayers and Citizens Association (WRCA) reached boiling point.

• The Australian Football League (AFL) and New South Wales Cricket have told Wagga City Council they are prepared to contribute $2 million to help raise the standard of Robertson Oval so it can host major matches.

• Fifty-one percent of main street businesses who responded to a CBD Wagga survey said they would not be willing to pay a levy to fund professional marketing of the main street.

• Doctors and patients are furious at a decision by Wagga Base Hospital to cancel all elective surgery in the last week of April.

• A new policy is in place at Wagga City Council, drafted by general manager, Brian Andrews, to avoid any further embarrassing cost blowouts in capital works projects.

50 Years Ago

• New South Wales branch president of the A.L.P., Mr John Ducker addressing a meeting at the Wagga Leagues Club said it was essential for the Labor Party to improve its electoral performance in the country.

• The Wagga and District Trades and Labour Council launched a trade union week and membership drive with Secretary, Ken Fletcher saying that their aims were to promote the ideal of trade unionism – “Unity and Strength”.

• Wagga’s Mayor, Ald Dick Gorman, said that the biggest problem facing Wagga over the next three years was the provision of high-quality homes at reasonable prices.

• Mount Austin High School all-rounder, Geoff Lawson, is pictured with Brian Heffernan and Michael Noonan playing in the Byrnes Shield match at the Wagga Cricket Ground.

• The Wagga International Club’s Ladies Auxiliary has organised an International Dinner Dance at the Postal Institute Hall in Station Place with tickets $2 per head, available at the door.

• The Wagga Ambulance Service is celebrating 50 years since the service was first established.

• The former canopied beer garden behind the Duke of Kent Hotel has been enclosed, carpeted and renamed as the “Levee Lounge”.

• The Mount Austin High School Auditorium presently under construction is expected to be finished later this year.

• Two Beatle’s movies, “Help Is On Its Way” and “A Hard Day’s Night” are featured at Wagga’s Drive-In this Sunday night.

• Huthwaites are advertising Giant Umbrella’s in a range of sizes to fit rotary clothes hoists.

• The Riverina College of Advanced Education are launching Adult Education courses beginning with a Worker’s Education Association adult study course on Southeast Asia.

• Heavy rain washed out the Wagga Cricket Association seven a side knockout carnival with turf wickets at Robertson Oval, Gissing Oval and the Cricket Ground quickly flooded.

• The new president of the Southern District Rifle Association, Allan Carroll will complete 50 years of service to the executive of the association this year.

• Seven Day Adventists are inviting Wagga smokers to join a “Five Days to Freedom” anti-smoking campaign beginning this week.

• Wagga’s total unemployment figure has dropped by 474 from 1638 in January to 1164.

• 1000 uniformed RAAF members will march through Wagga as part of the annual RAAF anniversary celebrations.

• Mr Harper was elected president of the Riverina Lapidary Club at the annual meeting held recently in the club room at Small Street.

• The Riverine Club still holds the lead in the Wagga Snooker and Billiards Association pennant competition.

• Three yearling colts from Bourkelands Stud in Wagga fetched a total of $15,500 at the Sydney yearling sales held at Randwick.

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