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

12th October 2024

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

25 Years Ago

• A freak storm wrought havoc across the Riverina, bringing down trees and powerlines and leaving thousands of homes and businesses without power.

• East Wagga-Kooringal held its annual presentation night at the Gumly Oval clubrooms with best and fairest awards in the three grades going to Ken McPherson (reserves), Tom Gorham (first grade) and Daniel Bromham (under 18’s).

• St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Hall hosted a Teddy Bears Picnic.

• A new look Fearne’s main Street Shuttle Bus embarked on a trial run with local community leaders enjoying a champagne brunch on the bus.

• Kooringal’s White Avenue was awarded the Tidy Town’s Street of the Season for Spring 1999.

• Cathy McMullen, Anne Webber, Monica Wheelen, Joanne Stormonth, Meg Harrison and Denise Alchin were among those attending a Mount Erin High School class of 1979, 20-year reunion at the RSL Club.

• Book City in Baylis Street owned by Peter and Margie Halicki and Graham and Jenny Gorrel won the Book City Australia, “Franchisee of the Year Award”.

• Sydney Swan’s captain Paul Kelly signed his plaque hanging in Wagga’s Riverina Museum Sporting Hall of Fame.

• The Rotary Club of Wagga represented by Bruce Heydon and John Studdert donated a television and video to the Wagga Base Hospital Children’s Ward.

• Uranquinty reinsman, Daniel Jack, received NSW Harness Racing’s junior driver encouragement award at a gala function in Sydney.

• The World War II, 2/6^th Commando Squadron held its 17^th meeting in Wagga, highlighted by a march past, wreath laying and a barbeque.

• Kincaid Street Takeaway, Cherrywood Service Station and Scribbles Cafe are being advertised by Neville Chapple from HLB Business Brokers as Wagga’s first multi business auction.

• Wagga is hosting three major conferences this week for Pipe Engineers, the Australian Association of Practice Managers and the largest ever conference of Agronomy staff at Charles Sturt University sponsored by Wesfarmers Dalgety.

• Wagga lost one of its oldest citizens with the death of Esmay Fuller at the age of 104 years.

• Wagga’s Darren Coggan made his stage debut in front of 20,000 people as Richie Cunningham in Happy Days: The Arena Mega Musical at Sydney’s Super-Dome.

• Around 50 young asthma sufferers gathered at the Borambola Sport and Recreation Camp for the 1999 Children’s Asthma Camp.

50 Years Ago

• Water is flowing three inches over the spillway at Burrinjuck dam with river levels at Wagga expected to reach 30’ 4”.

• North Wagga residents have been told to evacuate their homes for the fourth time in 11 weeks.

• Theo Andronicus, Peter Lanelopoulos and Michael Georgiou are among members of Wagga’s Greek Community who have raised $5500 and 80 cartons of foodstuffs to aid their fellow countrymen following the recent conflict on the island of Cyprus.

• Dalgety Australian announced the appointment of Wagga man Neville Rava to the position of Bloodstock manager for NSW.

• Three officers with the Department of Main Roads counted more than 16,000 vehicles crossing Wagga’s death level crossing in Edward Street over a twelve-hour period which is a significant increase over the last count in 1969.

• St Stephen’s Harriers Club member Max Little won line honours in the third annual Daily Advertiser-2WG City to Lake Run For Your Life covering the 9km in 26 minutes 52 seconds.

• Tom Berrigan is managing Berrigan’s Shoe store following the retirement of his father Mr H L Berrigan who opened the business in Wagga 1930.

• Wagga sportsman, Mark Gallagher is pictured with champion squash player, Heather McKay who is in Wagga for an exhibition match at the Wagga Squash Centre.

• Rod Dominish, who is currently president of the Orienteering Association of NSW, is hopeful of organising an Orienteering Association in Wagga shortly.

• Zone 8 Bowls President, Ben Atkinson presented certificates to the winners of the Zone Pairs competition, Norm Chant and Noel Barnes of Wagga City.

• Bob Davies of Hore and Davies Travel presented Mr and Mrs Joe Knight with tickets for a Qantas Freelance Holiday to Penang which they won in a competition at a recent Leagues Club International Night.

• Greg Smith of Mount Austin High School received the Hardy Shield best and fairest award.

• Mr and Mrs Bruce Thompson from the Wagga Agricultural College were among those attending the Wagga Beef Cattle Society’s first trophy presentation dinner at the Police Boys Club.

• John D’Anvers, general manager of local builder, Siebels Bros Pty Ltd said the awarding of a $3.4 million contract for the Wagga Abattoir expansion project to Sydney construction firm, Matthew Hall Pty Ltd was a “disappointing blow”.

• Dunlop Garments has retrenched 12 employees at its Wagga factory because of a current slump in orders.

• Marrar winger, Tom Pattison, won the inaugural $500 Footballers Gift Final (120 metres) in a thrilling finish at Maher Oval.

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