6th January 2024
Compiled from the Daily Advertiser by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society.
25 Years Ago
- The long wait was over with Mount Austin High School students, Chris Asgill, Ben Glascott and Skye Moran pictured in the Daily Advertiser receiving their Higher School Certificate results over the internet.
- Substantial damage was caused by a devasting arson attack on Turvey Park Public School.
- Expansion of Wagga’s Agricultural Institute’s animal nutrition unit is underway with the arrival of a new research officer, Emma Richardson.
- Wagga athlete, Lee Cox will represent Australia in coming weeks at the Far East and South Pacific Games to be held in Bangkok.
- Steve Kirkaldy and Glen Bevan are pictured in the Daily Advertiser putting the final touches to the new South Wagga Cricket Club nets at the Riverina Football Club.
- Bag-A-Bargain in Baylis Street is advertising a 20% off everything closing down sale.
- Driving while disqualified resulted in a Wagga man being jailed for 12 months.
- Thousands of Riverina farmers have so far failed to back moves to gain exceptional circumstance assistance from the Federal Government following severe spring frosts which wiped out crops valued at millions of dollars.
- Abusing a parking officer who he claimed did not mark his tyre correctly resulted in a Wagga man being fined $400 in court.
- Lawrie Maher from the Wagga and District Family History Society is once again available at the Wagga Library to help family history researchers.
- Wagga temperatures peaked at 41 degrees this week.
- Despite concern’s held by the RSL’s Bruce Ruxton that women were physically unsuited to combat roles nine out of ten new female recruits passed the army’s multi-stage physical test and have begun training at Kapooka.
- Wagga will soon boast its first helipad being constructed at the Duke of Kent Oval.
- Wagga fire brigade was called out six times in an hour beginning at 6.30pm one evening this week.
- A nine-year-old Oura girl holidaying with her family at Blowering Dam suffered a fatal asthma attack, the second child from the region to die from an asthma attack in recent weeks.
- Wagga branch president, Greg Jerrick said that the One Nation Party is hoping to endorse a candidate for the next State Election.
- A successful Wagga Wheelrace Carnival conducted by the Wagga Cycle Club attracted riders from NSW, ACT, Victoria, and Tasmania.
50 Years Ago
- Almost $8 million worth of building contracts were signed for the Bomen abattoir complex which is expected to attract up to 1250 people from Sydney and Melbourne to Wagga.
- President of the Wagga Master Butchers Association, Mr Bill Lonsdale described signing of the Abattoir contracts as “the greatest breakthrough Wagga butchers have had.
- Knights Meats Wholesale, which offers savings on a large range of bulk meats and frozen foods has been opened at the end of Fitzmaurice Street near the Hampden Bridge by Gregory and Michael Knight who currently operate three other butcher shops in the city.
- Wagga’s Mayor, Ald Gissing congratulated Mr and Mrs Peter Papas and Mr Frank Fondacaro, after they became new Australian citizens.
- Lockhart was isolated by floodwaters as continuous heavy rains overflowed creeks and flooded all roads in and out of town.
- The Sturt Highway at Alfredtown also flooded with 15 inches or more of water across the road.
- Town Clerk, Bill Ellis reported that a considerable number of notices have been sent by Council requiring persons to remove fire hazards from their property.
- Mal Newman has arrived from Gunnedah to take up his position as accountant at the ANZ Bank.
- The Riverina Australian Rules Football Club is holding an “Old Time Dance” featuring the band “Blue Rhythm”. Chef, Bill Taylor is providing a “bistro style” dinner from 7pm.
- New Rugby League coaches for Kangaroo’s, Brian Bourke, and Turvey Park, John Young have arrived in Wagga for the coming season.
- The regions 43 municipal and shire councils will be reduced to only 16 if NSW Parliament adopts suggestions contained in an explosive report compiled by the Barnett Committee.
- An average of two people died on Riverina roads which includes Wagga and Albury nearly every week last year. 96 people lost their lives, which is seven more than 1972 and three less than 1971.
- Members of the Wagga Amateur Swimming Club are assisting with the Wagga City Council’s “learn to swim” campaign.
- The president of the Royal NSW Bowling Association, Doug Braddock is visiting 12 clubs in the region and will officially open the 1974 season of the Wagga and District Bowling Association this weekend at South Wagga.
- Adult Learn to Dance Classes are recommencing at Riverina Ballroom Dancing Studios in Thompson Street.
- Wagga Technical College is offering a choice of eight rural subjects including Farm Management, Sheep and Beef Cattle Production and Agronomy.
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
