30th September 2023
Compiled from The Daily Advertiser by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society.
25 Years Ago
- Councillor John Harding was re-elected Mayor of Wagga for his second term with Councillor Dennis Blackett elected as deputy mayor.
- Wagga nurse and Red Cross worker Maryann Kelly has returned home after eight months of service in Afghanistan.
- Miss Wagga, Michelle Robertson and Community Princess Tamara Glover returned to Wagga after spending a month representing Wagga travelling through Europe.
- Anglican Priest Reverend Philip Elliott Price was tragically killed in a plane crash near Lockhart.
- Rebel Mitchell has been selected in the New South Wales Country representative squad to compete in the National Baseball Championships in Alice Springs next year.
- Charter members Doss Osmond and Betty Hoskins with President Pat Fromholtz and Lieutenant Governor, Nell Davis were among those celebrating Quota International’s 40 years of service to the community at a luncheon at the Commercial Club.
- Charles Sturt University student, Kirsty Galvin was sashed Miss Showgirl 1998.
- Finalists in the Thomas Blamey Tavern karaoke competition included Hailey Burgess, Katrina Goldstraw, Carly Van Delft and Blair Earl.
- Wagga Tiger’s players made the most of Sunday’s first grade and under 18’s premierships at the club’s “Mad Monday” celebrations at Robertson Oval.
- Leagues Club cricketers, Dennis Chaplin and Phil Angel were presented with life membership certificates by Leagues Club president, Brian Lawrence.
- Beatrice Nixon, a former student of Mangoplah Public School has written a book, Mangoplah Memoirs and School Centenary about her memories of the school and town.
- Greg Armstrong, Cheryl Blake, Richard Black, and Barb Hackett were among those enjoying the Wagga Picnic Races cocktail party at the Riverine Club.
- Rivcoll’s 1978 rugby union premiership team gathered in Wagga for a 20-year reunion.
- George and Virginia Sykes took out individual categories and Sue and Chris Deely the best-dressed couple award in the Picnic Races, Fashions on the Field which was judged by Pam Petherbridge, Michael McCormack, and Sue Kelly.
- Neil Morton and Brett Dodson were appointed as co-captains of the RSL Cricket Club first-grade team.
- Wagga Leagues Club sales in 1997-98 exceeded $6.5 million with gross profits after operating expenses rising from $3,976,109 to $4,314,960.
- Wagga district residents have raised more than $61,000 in the 40 Hour Famine to help people at risk of starvation or war in countries including Sudan, Uganda, and North Korea.
50 Years Ago
- Wagga grazier Councillor Ron Harris has been elected president of Mitchell Shire Council.
- Meredith Shaw was congratulated on winning the 1973 Miss Showgirl competition by Show Society president, Keith Brunskill.
- David Olsen and Barney St. George were among those taking part in a walkathon at The Rock to raise money for the Mt. Austin High School Parents and Citizens Association.
- Former Wagga residents, Mr and Mrs Geoff Dixon are leaving Australia for Europe where Mr Dixon, a former Chief of Staff at The Daily Advertiser has been appointed the Australian Government’s Publications Editor for Europe and Asia.
- Captain of the Wagga Fire Brigade, Laurie Gallagher, farewelled Mr Fred Lynn who retired from the brigade after 28 years of service.
- Mrs Ethel Cox was presented with life membership of the Ashmont Junior Australian Rules Club during the Club’s premiership banquet.
- John Ross, 82, a former member of Holbrook Shire who was involved with local government for 48 years and served in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the Member for Albury has died at his home.
- R A Johnson, homebuilder, handyman centre, shopfitters and glass merchants are celebrating their 21st birthday.
- Wagga City Council has received approval to borrow $2.4 million this financial year of which $1.5 million has been set aside for work on the Bomen abattoir expansion.
- The Southern Riverina County Council was ordered to shed half of its total electricity load, in its worst-ever power cuts, causing chaos in the region.
- Wagga Show Society President, Keith Brunskill said that the “Show will go on – power disruptions or not”.
- Wagga shops are foregoing late-night shopping on Thursday to enable maximum available power to be directed to the Wagga Showgrounds.
- Bill Lonsdale, president of the Master Butchers Association in Wagga said that their members would defy striking abattoir employees and make their own kills.
- Mr Colin White has been appointed as chairman of the 2WG Old Peoples Homes Trust following the formal resignation of Mrs W J Hucker.
- Mrs Amy Hurd who has retired after 15 years as secretary of the Wagga Eisteddfod Society was honoured with a presentation following the official opening of the 1973 Eisteddfod by Mayor of Wagga, Ald M Gissing.
- A record 500 entries have been received for this year’s Wagga Kennel Club dog show.
- Good fishing is attracting many fishermen to Burrinjuck Dam with cod up to 20 pounds reported with generally very heavy catches.
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
