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

15th June 2024

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

25 Years Ago

• Ron Finemore has been appointed as an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday honours list.

• Wagga Police were pleased by the responsible conduct of Queens Birthday weekend motorists with Wagga Highway Patrol Sergeant, Darrell Hunt saying that “things had remained fairly quiet.”

• Wagga businessman, Don Kendell has resigned as chairman and as a board member of the Greater Murray Area Health Service due to ill health.

• Wagga Mayor, John Harding, his wife Lin, Council General Manager, Brian Andrews and his wife, Joy and Deputy Mayor, Dennis Blackett returned to Wagga after spending more than a week in Wagga’s Chinese Sister City Kunming attending an international horticultural exposition.

• Mangain Red Cross members, Nell Thompson and Edna Westendorf were presented with long service awards by Zone 21 representative, Lynne Howard and Mangain Red Cross branch president, Barbara Johnson.

• Wagga City Council Tourism Manager, Luke Grealy, said that the state of the recently closed Greyhound-Pioneer Wagga Terminal which still functions as a pickup and drop off point in the city was an “absolute disgrace”.

• The New South Wales Division of the Australian Beer Can Collectors Association met at the Wagga Boat Club over the weekend.

• AMP Wagga staff members, Pat Ingram, Debbie McMahon, John Goodwin, Emma Tyndal and Doug Sutton celebrated AMP’s 150^th anniversary in Australia.

• Member for Riverina, Kay Hull said that work will soon begin on a roundabout at the notorious Hammond Ave / Kooringal Road intersection.

• Lake Albert Primary Girls who drew in the final of the NSW PSSA soccer championship are now the proud holders of the championship shield for six months.

• CWA members, Denise Fergusson, Dorothy Mulqueeney and Ann Adams presented a cheque to Kim Burkinshaw on behalf of Kurrajong-Waratah.

• Bishop of Wagga, William Brennan, has pushed for the establishment of a school of medicine at Charles Sturt University as a way of encouraging trainee doctors to stay in country areas after they receive their qualifications.

• The last five days in Wagga have been the coldest consecutive June days in 22 years with maximum temperatures recorded of 9.2 degrees, 9.9 degrees, 7.8 degrees, 9.5 degrees and 9.7 degrees.

• The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is closing its Wagga and Coffs Harbour aviation centres and concentrating its resources in Sydney, Canberra and Tamworth.

50 Years Ago

• David Sullivan has been appointed as president and Grant McRae as secretary of Wagga’s new Central Wagga Apex Club which will be officially chartered on 26^th July at the Wagga Leagues Club.

• Wagga postal workers have refused to strike until the reasons for a strike have been explained to them and have voted no confidence in the Amalgamated Postal Workers Union.

• Bell’s Soft Drinks Pty Ltd Wagga has become the administrative centre of Cottee’s soft drink operations for most of Australia.

• The 2WG Nursing Home has been renamed the Wendy Hucker Nursing Home recognising her role as chairman of the home trust for many years.

• Wagga Mayor, Ald Morris Gissing opened the 17^th ANZ Staff Interstate Sporting Carnival held over the weekend.

• There were a record 173 entries in the seventh annual Wagga Veteran and Vintage Motor Club rally.

• Quinlivan’s Menswear and Jean Stable is having a Winter Sale which includes Men’s Suits for $50, business shirts for $5 and Jeans from $5.

• Harry Rawlinson is adverting his 20 years’ experience at the South End Sewing Machine Repair Shop in the Golden Arcade at 14 Baylis Street.

• Wagga Soccer Joey, Kevin Biddle has been selected in the NSW under 13 soccer team.

• Huthwaites are selling pure new wool blankets for single beds from $13.75 and for double beds from $18.75 each.

• Wagga RSL Club is presenting “The Digger Revell Show” for members entertainment.

• Hunt’s Food Centre on the corner of Bourke and Urana Streets is selling Fairy Cooking Margarine for 17 cents, Kiaora Baked Beans or Spaghetti, 16oz cans for 21 cents and Kellogg’s Cornflakes, 16oz for 35 cents.

• Two people, a pedestrian and a motor cyclist were killed in area road accidents on the holiday weekend.

• On the third successive morning of below zero temperatures, the mercury fell to a chilly minus 5.2 degrees Celsius to record Wagga’s coldest morning so far this year.

• Wagga has become the only city in NSW outside of metropolitan areas and universities to gain a young Labor Club.

• Miss Lesley Willsallen gained three first places and a third in the Riverina Dressage Club competition day at the Wagga Showgrounds.

• Ashmont Primary School pupils, David Honeysett, Darren Strutt and Michael Warner have been selected to play in the Riverina Rugby League team to play at Coffs Harbour later this term.

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