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

24th June 2023

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

25 Years Ago

• Wagga bus operators and senior NRMA road service patrolman, Jeffery Lange, have joined the city’s taxi service in criticising Wagga’s main street upgrade.

• Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Commissioner, Barry O’Keefe and Senior ICAC corruption officer, Jim Sturgeon visited Wagga to present a blueprint for the better management of the Aboriginal land council system.

• Wagga Ambulance Officer, Baden Maiden, received a commendation from the State Superintendent of the NSW Ambulance Service in recognition of his actions on the scene of a fatal tractor accident at Yerong Creek.

• Past President, Wal Breust said that the Garden City Probus Club which has held its first annual general meeting was the first mixed Probus Club in Wagga and had grown from 76 foundation members to 140, both male and female.

• Trophy winners at the Wagga International Raceway end-of-season function included Paul McCarthy, Ron Watts, Geoff Crouch, Andrew Cunningham, Wayne O’Brien, and Lindsay Manning.

• 1^st Kooringal Cub Scouts Christopher Atherton, 11, and Lisa Clark, 10, received the highest Cub Scout award, the yellow cord.

• The Wagga Commercial Club is celebrating its 50^th anniversary.

• Wagga’s premier rural property, Tahara, near Forest Hill is reported to be on the market for $12 million.

• Mac McLoughlin handed over to incoming president Col Curtis at the South Wagga Rotary change-over dinner at the Commercial Club.

• Mrs Alice Swan celebrated her 100^th birthday with friends at the Wendy Hucker Nursing Home.

• Director of the Riverina Institute of TAFE congratulated Ana Maria Alberto winner of the 1997 Business Service Award.

• The South Wagga Butchery in Edward Street is selling whole yearling rumps for $5.95 kg, choice corned silverside for $4.95 kg and tasty thick sausages for 4kg for $5.

• Linda Meyers and Chris Prowse both celebrated their 90^th birthdays at St John’s Day Care.

• Wagga City Council decided to increase rates next year by 1.5%, less than the full amount allowed under rate pegging legislation of 1.7%.

• Ten jobs are under threat with a recommendation to transfer operations of Wagga’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority office to Bankstown.

• Council has been advised that an application for a $300,000 State Government grant for the construction of a new netball complex at the Equex Centre has been unsuccessful.

• Director of Environmental Services, Ian Graham told Wagga City Council that Wagga’s existing network of streetlights had been rendered obsolete by changes in lighting technology.

• Police are investigating a home invasion in Nordlingen Avenue which saw a 24-year-old woman and her three children terrorised when two men burst into their home.

• Riverina Academy of Sport cyclist, Sam Stephenson won the New South Wales 25km individual time championship at Gosford.

• The Wagga Women’s branch of the Liberal Party and the Riverina No Republic Group are hosting political analyst, Malcolm Mackerras at two functions in Wagga.

50 Years Ago

• Telegrams of congratulations from the Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam and Premier, Sir Robert Askin, were received by the retiring fire captain of the Wagga Volunteer Fire Brigade, Mr F C Day.

• An industrial complex, a new medical services block and a kitchen will be given priority under a $1,500,000 grant to Wagga Base Hospital.

• A group of Wagga beef raisers led by Mr Murdoch (Doc) McLennon has left for a one-month beef farming tour of Japan, Canada, and The United States.

• The Wagga Boat Club was the venue for a 21^st birthday party for Bob Douglas, son of Bill and Linda Douglas of Wollundry Avenue.

• Waltons are selling Firestone and Dunlop tyres on terms from 40 cents weekly.

• Miss Edna Hazelwood, president of the Wagga Business and Professional Women’s Club presented Wagga City Librarian, Miss Ruth Drew, with a book “The First Twenty-Five Years” which is a history of the Federated Business and Professional Women’s Clubs of Australia.

• Outgoing president, Ken Rew passed the chain of office to the incoming president, Ken White at the Wagga Rotary Club Changeover dinner held at the Wagga Leagues Club.

• Power restrictions are having a crippling effect on many local industries including the Dunlop garment factory which has stood down its 170 employees until the power restrictions are lifted.

• For the first time since the early post-war years, Wagga is severely caught up in a brewery strike affecting the whole State with many hotels and clubs running out of draught beer this week.

• Fulham Gardens are selling bananas, ten for 28 cents, buckets of naval apples for 79 cents and garlic ¼lb for 20 cents.

• A special welcome was extended to newcomers to Wagga by Red Cross Society President, Mrs S Hutchinson at a delightful friendship afternoon held at the Red Cross Centre.

• Appeal chairman, Kevin Dykes said that the Lions Cancer Treatment Appeal in the Riverina and Southwest Slopes may top $23,000.

• Kooringal Public Schools recent Spellathon raised $2100.

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