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

2nd November 2024

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

25 Years Ago

• More than 400 volunteers knocked on doors in every Wagga suburb and outlying centres raising more than $155,000 for the Riverina Radiotherapy Cancer Centre Appeal.

• Chris Nash, Scott Nash and Robert Davies announced plans for a $9 million housing development on a three-hectare parcel of land off Travers Street, just west of Finemore’s Transport.

• Anne Childs, Sandra Schultz, Elizabeth Ryder, Zoe Savage and Jess Whittaker were among those attending a Wagga Base Hospital Nurses’ 30-year Reunion at the Pavilion Motor Inn.

• Arnold Ellis, Frank Franklin, Beverly Dahl, Shirley Stockton, Baden Breust and Bob Whittaker were among those attending a Wagga High School 1949 50-year reunion at the Commercial Club.

• Sally Peacock of Gissing’s Pharmacy in the Sturt Mall raised $5,000 for the Riverina Radiotherapy Appeal when she got her head shaved by Jenny Uren of Reflections Hair Salon.

• Cricketer Mark Taylor signed a cricket bat to be auctioned to raise funds for Wagga’s Radiotherapy Appeal.

• Tourism Wagga chairman, Michael Maher, Mayor, Kevin Wales and Wagga City Councils Bob Tuck welcomed a trade delegation from Henan Province in China.

• Rosina Grosse, a tireless, well known and respected disability advocate passed away this week.

• The National Wine Grape and Industry Centre at Charles Sturt University was jointly opened by NSW Agriculture Minister, Richard Amery and Member for Farrer, Tim Fischer.

• Principal of Wagga’s Trinity Senior High School, Geoff Johnston, spoke out against under-age drinking and “dangerous” television shows based on wrong values.

• Amanda Hubbard has been selected in the NSW Primary School Sports Association softball representative team.

• Miss Tean America, Lindsay Martin is spending the week in the Wagga District.

• Ten community members are to be added to Wagga’s Walk of Honour. They are John Ansell, Henry and Morris Gissing, Edgar Graham, Leyton Selwyn Jones, Colin Knott, Carol Moffit, Margaret and Trixie Read and Rosina Grosse.

• Magistrate Andy O’Donaghoe said he was hopeful that would soon have a drug court with alternatives available other than jail terms for drug offenders.

• Wagga’s Remembrance Village retirement hostel is to expand by 10 beds with the help of a $300,000 capital works grant.

• The Taxi Industry Association said that a significant increase in late night fares would benefit drivers while operators would benefit from more drivers willing to work the late-night shift.

50 Years Ago

• Geoff Stoyles, a 17-year-old bank teller, was shot with wounds in the arm and chest during an armed holdup of the South Wagga branch of the National Bank on the corner of Morgan and Baylis Streets.

• Jack Skeers Honda Centre is celebrating its 30^th birthday at 115 Fitzmaurice Street.

• Turvey Park lock Geoff Dalgleish was awarded the first grade, best and fairest award at the club’s end of season function at the Wagga Leagues Club.

• Work is nearing completion on the copper cladding of the towering chapel spire at the new Home of Compassion being built at Ashmont.

• Sixty-five children from Mount Austin Primary School gave up their lunch money and skipped normal lunch to donate $14 to the Save the Children Fund.

• Graham Negline, newly elected president of the Wagga branch of the Insurance Institute is pictured in the Daily Advertiser with Institute members Peter Kell, John Martin and John Colby.

• Riverina Group President of CWA, Mrs Jean Lashbrooke held a winning ticket in a Melbourne Cup sweep hosted by the Cartwrights Hill CWA branch at Romanos Hotel.

• Santa Claus arrived at Mates store riding a Honda CB 750 motor bike escorted by five other riders.

• Adult Learn to Dance classes are being held every Wednesday from 8pm at the Riverina Ballroom Dancing Studios at 38 Tompson Street.

• Mr Dick O’Donnell, chairman of SDRA Stipendiary Stewards has announced his resignation.

• Chairman of the Riverina College of Advanced Education, Peter Hastie, said he saw 1975 as being a year of accelerated expansion in building plans both at the Colleges North Campus in Wagga and at study centres in Albury and Griffith.

• President, Roland Bannister said that the Wagga Chamber Music Society is organising a barbeque at the Riverina College sportsground and a folk, poetry and music supper concert at the Leagues Club.

• Jim Elphick has been re-elected unopposed as Wagga Tennis Association president for the fourth successive year.

• Wagga’s marriage guidance service established by a committee of Wagga residents, laymen, clerics and professional counsellors led by Fr G Iverson of St Michael’s Cathedral received several phone enquiries when it opened at the Community Aid Centre.

• The 4^th Annual Graduation for Australian Government Secretarial Course students was held in St John’s Hall, Wagga.

• The price of a middy of beer is increasing by one cent throughout the Riverina.

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