23rd March 2024
Compiled from the Daily Advertiser by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society.
25 Years Ago
- Seniors Week and the International Year of Older People was launched in Wagga by Yvonne Gilchrist, Margaret Vardy, Member for Wagga, Joe Schipp, Mayor John Harding, Mona Collins, Janice Saw and Rhonda Schipp.
- Wagga Marketplace celebrated its second anniversary with centre manager, Steven Atkinson, thanking thousands of people from the local community who joined in the festivities including a new annual “Thanks A Thousand” community award.
- Peter Kimpton, Michael Beltran, Ian Donaldson, and Joe Knox were among those attending the official opening by Wagga’s Mayor, John Harding, of San Isidore’s Yarragundry Fire Station.
- Joe Schipp who is retiring as the local member for Wagga Wagga is pictured in the Daily Advertiser with two of his staff members, Paula Spencer, and Margaret Pulver.
- Wagga men Les Mouat and Ray Catts are off to China next month to act as consultants for a new miniature railway theme park in Anning City.
- Group Nine referees’ association has landed a lucrative sponsorship with pay TV outfit Austar.
- Joyce Holloway is pictured in the Daily Advertiser playing in the District Bridge Tournament at the Wagga Leagues Club.
- Sisters Isabella McMullen, Phyllis Robinson and Esmae Murphy were among former Lakee Albert Public School students attending a reunion at the school.
- The Riverina Regional Library has purchased about 150 new books thanks to a $4000 bequest from Catherine Mitchelmore who worked as a volunteer at the library delivering books to people who are housebound.
- Glenn Elliott has moved from Warsaw to take up a position as the new general manager at Wagga Mutual Credit Union.
- Under a plan announced by Bishop William Brennan, the Catholic Church will build a new co-education school in Wagga and close St Michael’s Regional High School. Mount Erin High School and Trinity Senior High School will also merge to form a Year 7 to 12 co-educational school.
- The area’s dry spell is over with several Riverina locations recording rainfalls of more than 220 millimetres.
- Wagga athlete, Lachlan Chisholm won the under 20, 1500 metre final at the national track and field championships at Melbourne’s Olympic Park.
- Tourism Wagga has submitted a marketing budget for next year of $223,790 almost twice the amount approved for this year to Wagga City Council.
- Wagga City Council is employing a youth activities officer.
50 Years Ago
- Harry Hendriks, president of the Wagga District Radio Club, presented nine students from St Michael’s Regional High School with certificates from the Australian Wireless Institute after they passed several ham radio examinations.
- More than 850 Rotarians attended the annual Rotary district conference, which was opened by Member for Wagga, Mr Wal Fife at the Wagga Agricultural College.
- Wagga City Council’s Senior Building Inspector, Mr Keith Bassett has resigned to be appointed construction manager for Howard Homes (Wagga) Pty Ltd.
- Students at the Riverina College of Advanced Education are striking for two days in support of increased teacher training allowances.
- Woolworth’s Family Centre are selling an 8-piece golf set for $39.95, folding aluminium chairs for $4.69 and Polaroid Zip Cameras for $11.95.
- Fosseys have a full range of 5 ply, 8 ply and 12 ply Wool-Nylon Crepe yarns all just 22 cents per ball.
- Nearly 100 people from 21 countries attended the International Club’s Dinner Dance at the Postal Institute Hall.
- More than 140 terrified women locked themselves in the Dunlop Garment Factory as a man with a gun ran amok outside firing three shots and ramming two cars.
- Wagga Mayor, Ald Morris Gissing resigned as chairman of the Murrumbidgee District Ambulance to concentrate on his role on the NSW Ambulance Board to which he was appointed last year.
- Wagga RSL Club has had its most successful year ever with Mr S C Sadlier re-elected as president for the 12th successive year and well-known bowling identity, Mr Reg Bowden elected to the Board of Directors.
- The Wagga Childcare Action Group is surveying the needs of childcare in Wagga.
- Mr Dick Doman, the foundation principal of the Wagga Agricultural College will be a special guest at the 25th Anniversary of the Old Boys’ Reunion this week.
- Three outstanding young speakers competed in the Wagga final of the Jaycees “Youth Speaks for Australia” with Geoff Robbins announced as winner with Bruce Arnold and Margo Hagelaar, runners up.
- Mr Bill Howells has been re-elected for his fourth term as president of the Mount Austin High School Parents and Citizens’ Association.
- Square dancing is coming to Wagga with a group from the Square-Dancing Society of NSW and a group from Melbourne staging exhibition dances at the North Wagga Football Club Hall.
- More than 400 entries have been received for the 1974 Riverina Open Schoolboys’ and Schoolgirls’ tennis championship.
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
