26th August 2023
Compiled from the Daily Advertiser by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society.
25 Years Ago
- The Caltex service station at Turvey Park is the first of two Wagga service stations to close in a rationalisation of country service stations with the Ampol service station at North Wagga to meet a similar fate in March.
- Mavis Taber was guest of honour at a function held by the Wagga Better Hearing Australia branch to formally recognise her work with the Association and her assistance provided to more than 500 people with hearing difficulties.
- Former Wagga Citizen of the Year, Ethel McNeill who was described by her husband, Angus McNeill as an outgoing woman with a special rapport with children died at the age of 74.
- Albert Burgman is pictured in the Daily Advertiser with a bottle of “North Wagga Brew” used as a fundraiser for the 1974 flood victims which he intends to crack open for the 25th anniversary of the floods next year.
- Thomas Graham has started work as museum manager in Wagga and is pictured in the Daily Advertiser with members of the Wagga and District Historical Society, Colin Carlin, Peter Morris, Keith Le Lievre, Henry Gardiner, Myra Webb, Phyllis de Jersey, Margaret Le Lievre, and Sherry Morris.
- Miss Wagga Michelle Robertson and Community Princess Tamara Glover are leaving on a five-week European trip which will include 10 days in Wagga’s German sister city, Nordlingen.
- A group of former Moore Paragon employees gathered for a wake at the Thomas Blamey Tavern on the eve of the plant’s closure after 26 years of operation in Wagga.
- Margaret Whitehead and John Brunskill are pictured in the Daily Advertiser taking part in an old-time dancing session at the Turvey Park Primary School on Saturday night.
- Former Wagga High School principal, Jim Smyth is sharing many happy memories in the Daily Advertiser of his time in Wagga as he celebrates his 90th birthday.
- Alatalo has released properties in its Hilltop Estate ranging in price from $38,000 to $78,000 with interested buyers asked to contact sales consultants, Ian Hallam, or Wes Russell.
- Chris and Donna Abbott have recently opened CJ’s Harley Davidson at 295 Edward Street.
- Trinity Senior High School students, Emma Tester, Chantel Plum and Johanna Peters successfully defended their national title at the Australian School Aerobic Championships in Melbourne.
50 Years Ago
- Mr Brian Andrews, who has been Chief Accountant at Wagga City Council for 13 years began work this week as Wagga’s new Deputy Town Clerk.
- Wagga City Council has approved in principle the naming of the North Wagga Sportsground as “McPherson Oval” after the late Mr Bill McPherson.
- Technicians Jeff Meyer and Kevin Olsen are pictured in the Daily Advertiser preparing equipment for the changeover to colour television at RVN-2.
- The grandstand to seat 3000 people at Eric Weissel Oval being built by Buckman Building Group will be ready for next season.
- Wagga City Council agreed to lift gas charges by 10% following increases in coal, rail freight and certain wage awards advised by Gasworks Engineer-Manager Mr C S Krummel.
- The 4th Wagga Cubs have erected a bushfire danger sign near the Baden Powell Archway on the western side of Willans Hill.
- About 400 adults and children attended the end-of-season presentation for the Kooringal Magpies Sub-Junior Rugby League Football Club at the Wagga Leagues Club.
- Mr Daryl Elsley has sold more than $10 million of National Mutual life assurance in the last seven years having qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table in 1969.
- Negotiations have begun to relocate Wagga Greyhound Racing to the Wagga Showgrounds from its present complex at North Wagga.
- Vicki Begg whose interests include trail riding, squash, shooting, swimming, and basketball is the latest entrant in the Miss Wagga Quest.
- Ald R J Harris refuted criticism by the Wagga Men’s Hockey Association of the state of playing fields at Duke of Kent Park.
- Bob Ashton presented two perpetual trophies for the Riverina Age Tennis Championships boys and girls Under 19 singles.
- Wagga Australian Rules Club announced that Doug Priest has been appointed captain-coach for next season.
- The Wagga Commerce Permanent Building Society has approved a record $1,107,000 for home loans over the past two months.
- Stock killing figures, particularly cattle at the Wagga Abattoir continue to a high level with stock killed in the four-week period ending August 10 totalling 37,788 an increase of 6627 over the corresponding period last year.
- Racing, trotting and greyhound clubs in the Riverina received a record $390,558 in a “distribution of surplus” from the Totalisator Agency Board.
- St. Aidan’s Presbyterian Church, South Wagga are holding an informal old-time dance at the Masonic Hall with a tasty supper and music by the Alpines. Single tickets costing two dollars are available from Gissing’s Pharmacy, Mueller’s Pharmacy and Lawson Fabrics.
- Wagga Arts Council has written to several Wagga Clubs in a bid to raise $5,400 to bring the rock musical “Godspell” to Wagga.
- South Melbourne Coach, Graham John is a guest speaker at this week’s meeting of the Wagga branch of the Sportsmen’s Association of Australia to be held at the Commercial Club.
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
