4th November 2023
Compiled from the Daily Advertiser by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society.
25 Years Ago
- Australia’s oldest “satchel swinger” the legendary 85-year-old bookmaker, Alf Ludwig finished his career at this week’s Wagga races.
- Former Mayor, Peter Dale declared himself as an independent candidate for next March’s State election.
- Dalman Parkway residents celebrated when their street was declared Street of the Season by the Wagga Tidy Towns Committee.
- Mayor John Harding was delighted with the announcement of the number of district towns and cities included in the Olympic Torch Relay route.
- A successful meeting saw Wagga International Raceway local club members take control of the track with priority to be given to regional drivers to attract people back to the speedway.
- Ben Arscott won the best and fairest award at the Rivcoll Rugby Union presentation evening.
- Dick Smith, Rail Services Australia South West general manager presented long service gold watches to Bill Smith, John Harrison, Keith Williams, Jack McElhinney, and Mick Tyrell.
- Tarcutta mailman, Gary Fellows, has completed his final 200 kilometre run and is looking forward to retirement.
- President Elaine Armstrong is pictured in the Daily Advertiser at the Oura CWA Branch Melbourne Cup Day fashion parade at the Wagga Winery.
- Ben Pitstock and Tara Searle were the Best Dressed Couple at the Melbourne Cup Day meeting held at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club.
- The Vietnam Veterans Charity bowls day at the Riverina Australian Football Club raised funds for the Maurie Kelly charity life machine for Wagga Base Hospital.
- Shaun O’Neill, Nigel Walton, and Robert Lloyd from the group Freefall won this year’s busking competition held as part of Wagga’s Voices Festival.
- Local philanthropist, Cedric Paul Lodge, died at the age of 90 years.
- Edna Cameron was farewelled at a morning tea after working at Wagga’s Grace Bros store for 25 years.
- Charles Sturt University held a special pre-graduation function for international student graduates unable to attend next year’s graduation ceremonies.
- The Children’s Medical Research Institute Gala Christmas Fair is in its 11th year at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club.
- 225 workers who walked off the job at Riverina Wool Combing over a dispute about 33 maintenance workers being made redundant, have returned to work following a three-day standoff.
- The inaugural Civic Theatre Board of Trustees was announced with Ian Donald elected as chairman and Donna Hartwig as deputy chairman.
50 Years Ago
- The Southern Riverina County Council has added an electric truck with a range of 25 miles and maximum speed of 33 miles per hour to its fleet.
- The High Commissioner of Fiji, Mr Ramin Nair was guest speaker at the Riverina Division of the NSW Master Builders Association dinner at the RSL Club.
- Wagga’s annual clean-up campaign is on this week with residents asked to place rubbish in their gutter for a collection which excludes fallen trees, pruning’s, brick bats, soil and motor vehicle chassis.
- The Greater Newcastle Permanent Building Society is offering 7.5% p.a. interest on all new and existing accounts through their local agent G J Fitzpatrick & Co.
- Wagga representative hockey star Dennis Geaghan won the Mustangs best and fairest award for the sixth consecutive year.
- Val Samuelson from Tijuana Sewing and Knitting Centre is advertising demonstrations of a Bernia Stretch Stitch sewing machine.
- Leagues Club members entertainment this weekend features, Leaonard Teale and Liz Harris with the Riverina Jazz Band.
- Mrs Marcia Fife gave a talk on her trip to Russia and the recent opening of the Sydney Opera House at the CWA Melbourne Cup luncheon held at the John Macarthur Hotel.
- Mrs George Rava and Mrs N Mortimer are pictured in the Daily Advertiser attending the Presentation Ex-Students Association Melbourne Cup luncheon at the Astor Motel.
- Mr S McGowan, Mr W Tomkins, Mr E J Lacey, Mr J K Martin, and Mr G F Negline were among those attending the annual general meeting of the Wagga branch of the Insurance Association of NSW.
- The Mayor, Ald M H Gissing and the Member for Farrer, David Fairbairn have joined the Member for Wagga, Mr Wal Fife in his protesting the Commonwealth Government’s decision to disband the Kapooka band. Ald Frisby is also organising a petition to be set up in Wagga business houses.
- South Wagga School held its Continental Fete on Saturday.
- Approximately 1000 people have signed a petition to present to the Member for Wagga, Mr Wal Fife, to obtain safer facilities at the pedestrian crossing adjacent to the St Maria Goretti Catholic school.
- Wagga Junior Basketball association received excellent support with nine teams taking part in a schoolboy’s competition launched last week.
- President, Mrs M Taber, presented her report to the fourth annual meeting of the Wagga branch of the Australian Association for the Hard of Hearing.
- Wagga Tennis Association are seeking to revive interest in representative inter-association games through the Ashton Cup.
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
