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

9th November 2024

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

25 Years Ago

• Sidony Menz was crowned Miss Wagga and Petroulla Artemiou, Community Princess in the 52^nd Miss Wagga Quest organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

• Lockhart’s Bluebird Café is on the market after almost 70 years in the Veneris family.

• Daily Advertiser journalist, Ken Grimson, has been recognised by the Country Press Association for the third time with an award for feature writing. 

• Mayor, Kevin Wales officially handed over a block of land on behalf of Wagga City Council to the South Wagga Lions Club to raise money for the radiotherapy appeal.

• Residents living near the Kooringal Hotel say their concerns over the extension of trading hours at the hotel have been snubbed by Wagga City Councillors.

• Kerry Geale, Council’s director of recreation and cultural services said Wagga’s $1.5 million Wollundry Lagoon amphitheatre is nearing the end of the concept design period and should take shape early next year.

• Wagga Mayor, Kevin Wales cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the Wagga Mutual Credit Union sales centre at 199a Baylis Street while the credit unions general manager, Glenn Elliott looked on.

• The Smith Family Store in Thompson Street announced that it will be closing on 19^th November.

• Shelley Irvin and Dion Argus from Foley’s Dance Studio won the Latin event at the Victorian Championships.

• K Mart celebrated its 20^th Birthday, and six original staff members Toni Anderson, Fay Wall, Robyn McInerney, Moya Gnezdiloff, Ann O’Rourke and Chris Devines are pictured cutting a cake to celebrate.

• Bill Perrott, 86, was honoured with life membership of the Kooringal Hotel fishing club and awarded the clubman of the year title.

• Oriel Begg was saddened by the recent closure of the Coleman Street Store which has played a major part in both her life and the life of her family.

• Andy Ireland, John Chalmers, Walter Sheaffe and Dick Evans were among those taking part in the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Wagga cenotaph.

• Kristen Cobby, Kate Saville and Michelle Hately from Kooringal High School were among those selling poppies and badges in Baylis Street for Poppy Day this week.

• Sherry Morris is preparing for the launch of her book, Wagga Wagga – A History on November 23.

• Wagga teachers voted to strike next week.

• Wagga City Council has begun bitumen sealing of a gravel section of the Bomen-Junee link road.

50 Years Ago

• Dignitaries including Mayor, Ald Dick Gorman and RSL Sub-branch president Colin Knott placed Remembrance Day wreaths at Wagga’s Cenotaph.

• Stephen Mortimer regarded as one of the most promising batsmen in the Wagga District is pictured batting for Lake Albert against South Wagga in a first-grade match at Robertson Oval.

• Work has started on the new dog racing track at the Wagga Showground.

• The first President of the South Wagga Apex Club, Mr Lloyd Lange MLC was guest speaker at the club’s 300^th dinner held at the Wagga City Golf Club.

• The James Barnes meat cannery plant at Bomen is nearing completion.

• Heather Bell is exhibiting her paintings at Wagga Artifacts.

• Lions Club Christmas cakes can be purchased for only $2 from the United Permanent Building Society at 179 Baylis Street.

• Mr G D Irons, managing director of Hunter Bros Pty Ltd and past secretary of the Wagga Chamber of Commerce was elected president of the Chamber at a special Saturday meeting of the board of directors.

• Bill Ellis, Town Clerk said that the Bush Fire Danger period for Wagga had come into effect from 1^st November and already 2000 landholders have been served with notices to clear excess weeds and grass growth.

• Wagga City Council and its two neighbouring shires, Mitchell and Kyeamba will hold a round table conference on boundaries after a special meeting of Wagga City Council decided that there were areas where Wagga’s boundaries should be expanded.

• The $8000 Howard Homes 72 holes proette golf classic which has attracted proettes from Australia and Great Britain, starts this week at the Wagga Country Club.

• More than 500 students from Wagga, Mount Austin, Mt Erin and St Michael’s Regional High School are sitting for School Certificate Exams this week.

• Colin Anderson of Wagga has been named Best Leading Actor in the musical section of the 1974 NSW Drama Festival organised by the Arts Council of Australia (NSW Division).

• More than 40 newspapers per week are being stolen from the lawns of homes in the Mt Austin area.

• Mrs Elizabeth Rorrison won the Associates Stableford event played in conjunction with the Pro-Am Tournament at the Wagga Country Club on a countback from Mrs Gwen Taylor.

• The latest international cinema, eight films all selected from the recent Sydney Film Festival, will be screened at Hoyts Wagga Theatre over the weekend.

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