In Wagga’s Past – 25 and 50 Years ago.

8th June 2024

Compiled from the Daily Advertiser by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society.

25 Years Ago

• Steve Atkinson has been elected as the president of the Wagga Chamber of Commerce and Industry with Glen Towle, Garry Williams, John Rumens and Greg Harris also elected to the Chamber’s executive.

• Members of the O’Halloran family are pictured with Councillor Pat Brassil at the official opening of O’Halloran Park in Lake Albert, named after the late Steve O’Halloran.

• The Wagga RSL Sub-Branch presented Frank Peacock, Wes Russell, and Kevin McCabe with Certificates of Appreciation in recognition of their contributions to Anzac Day celebrations each year.

• Wagga Liquor outlets have agreed to enforce a Liquor Licensing Accord with a 1am entry curfew.

• Tim Gooden, Jack Keating, Leo Lucas, Peter Delaney, and Stephen French together with captain coach Greg Leech are pictured at a reunion, celebrating East-Wagga Kooringal’s 1979 Farrer League premiership over Wagga Tigers.

• Wagga will host the Second Rotary Peace City Conference next year, one week before the Olympic Games begin in Sydney.

• Wagga International Raceway held its presentation night with award winners Scott Lanyon, Lindsay Manning, Wade Sheales, Kim Lucas, and Leanne Reardon pictured in the Daily Advertiser with their awards.

• Greater Murray Clinical School Community Advisory board met this week with Member for Riverina, Kay Hull.

• Bill Denton and his 1928 Chevrolet is among those participating in the Wagga Veteran and Vintage Motor Club’s 32^nd Annual June Rally this weekend.

• Red Cross Wagga Branch volunteers Doreen Symons and Pauline Campbell are pictured selling Trauma Teddies, badges, and pens outside Woolworths at the Wagga Marketplace.

• Sydney doctors have been held up to public ridicule after refusing to consider job offers made by the Wagga Medical Centre of up to $300,000 to move to Wagga.

•  The Wagga Branch of Red Cross is launching an appeal to assist Kosovar refugees with a morning tea at Saint Andrews Church Hall.

• Wagga Local Court was told that a drug dealing grandmother sold cannabis to raise money to support her large family.

• Laminex Industries sacked 55 workers at its Bomen plant.

• Wagga’s unemployment level fell by 14% last month with the number of people claiming Newstart and Youth Allowances decreasing by 427in the month of May.

• Wagga man Steve Condell and Cooma’s Robert Cox will represent Australia later this month when they compete in the Trans-Tasman Yard Dog Test in New Zealand.

50 Years Ago

• Minister for Health, Mr Waddy had a tour of inspection of the Wagga Base Hospital with Member for Wagga, Wal Fife, acting hospital board chairman, Mr H T Rennison and Superintendent of Nursing, Miss P Stephenson.

• Wagga education representatives have welcomed an announcement by Federal Minister for Education, Mr Kim Beazley that an education centre will be established in the city.

• Mrs Patrica Ferguson and John William Clark both of whom lost their first marriage partners two years ago through cancer were assisted by their children when they were married at St Aidan’s Presbyterian Church.

• Wagga’s Mayor and Mayoress, Ald and Mrs Morris Gissing are pictured with Ald Errella Heard, Mrs Betty Fowler, Mrs Shirley Gorman and Kit Mayes attending the Wagga Toast Mistress Club’s charter dinner.

• Rockman’s are advertising a special purchase of knitting yarn selling from 17 cents a ball.

• Wagga Lions Club vice president, Doug Drew is pictured presenting a cheque for $1000 to the Wagga branch of Aid Retarded Persons, president, John Dillon.

• Limited tickets are available at $2.50 for the Wagga High School Ball featuring the Corryong Accordion Band to be held on Friday 21^st June at Kyeamba Smith Hall.

• Wagga City Council agreed to commit itself to the re-establishment of North Wagga as a residential area and will investigate the provision of 35-foot levee banks, sewage, gas, and other amenities.

• Wagga Abattoir manager, Mr Len Wallace, in his annual report to Wagga City Council indicated that last year was a record year for operations with a turnover for the year of $2,428,983.

• One hundred and forty-two building blocks in subdivisions at Kooringal and Lake Albert will be released to members of the public this weekend.

• District president, Mr R A Johnson announced that the area of the Wagga District Scout Camp has been greatly enlarged with the acquisition of an additional 14.5 acres from the Pastures Protection Board.

• The Wagga Red Cross June appeal commenced with a biscuit bar and button day which raised $387.

• The Saint Aidan’s Presbyterian Women’s Auxiliary, Afternoon branch held its 38^th birthday party.

• A 1911 Humberette Tourer, a 1912 Triumph, a 1913 Renault and a 1914 Excelsior will be among 175 old cars and bikes to participate in the Wagga Veteran and Vintage Motor Club’s seventh annual rally this weekend.

• Jim Stenmark and Morris Hetherington won the Foursomes championship at the Wagga Country Club with a score of 157.

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