28th March 2026
Compiled from the Daily Advertiser by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society.
25 Years Ago
- After a 13-year career, Prime Television newsreader, Tony Pritchard, will leave the network shortly to take over a Wagga takeaway store. Sports reader Doug Hogan will take over the newsreader’s position.
- Wagga’s new $200,000 skate park has proved a huge hit with the city’s youth, with up to 120 teenagers jamming into the facility last weekend.
- Wagga’s international rugby league star, Steve Mortimer, who grew up with asthma, was in Wagga as a guest speaker for the Wagga Asthma Group regional conference and is pictured here with the president of the Wagga branch, Mark Child and CEO of the Asthma Foundation of NSW, Lindsay Crane.
- Among those who attended the opening of the new Micah Care and Support House at the corner of Trail and Gurwood Streets were Wagga Mayor, Kevin Wales, Father Wilf Plunket of the Sacred Heart Parish at Kooringal and Micah House president, Mick Rudd.
- Wagga solicitor, Colin Day, a high-profile figure not only in the legal fraternity but also in sporting circles, has died.
- Waratahs showed early form to win the Wagga City Knockout held at Connolly Park.
- Wagga City Council Waste Advisory Group Chairman, John Rumens, expressed his support for new Government legislation banning junk mail.
- Wagga marked the end of Seniors Week with a closing ceremony at the Senior Citizens Community Centre in Tarcutta Street.
- Chaired by Mayor Kevin Wales, more than 80 people gathered at Romano’s Hotel to voice their concerns about the future of Fitzmaurice Street.
- Wagga horsewoman Cheryl Drummond won the New South Wales Carriage Driving Championship Combined Driving Event at Parkes last weekend.
- Wagga Jazz Inc. president, George Ceely, is gearing up for this year’s Wagga Jazz Festival.
- Wagga City Council drafted a policy requiring Councillors and staff, where possible, to express the council’s viewpoint only when attending outside meetings.
- Wagga City Council has made a $1000 donation to the Uranquinty Progress Association to help build a monument commemorating the village’s past as a migrant holding centre.
- The Cancer Council has thrown its support behind the new $1.2 million accommodation centre in Wagga for Riverina cancer patients.
- Speculation of a merger between Wagga Commercial Club and Wagga RSL Club was dismissed by Commercial Club secretary-manager, Paul Cherry. RSL Club president Dave Gardiner said that he “wouldn’t read too much into it” but confirmed that a “chat” between the two clubs had taken place.
- The Riverina’s newest banks, Bendigo Bank and Elder’s Rural Bank, have combined to expand services in the region.
50 Years Ago
- 81-year-old, Stan Knight’s seven-year scheme to raise money by collecting old bottles, rags and scrap metal was rewarded when Knightleigh Cottages for the Aged was officially opened at the Rock.
- Member for Wagga, Joe Schipp, announced that tenders for stage one of a $5 million redevelopment for Wagga Base Hospital have been accepted.
- Inspector Harold Graham officially took up duties as Riverina Police District Superintendent with headquarters in Wagga.
- Members of the Wagga Golden Gown Committee held a luncheon meeting at the John Macarthur Hotel to sample food cooked by French chef Robert, who will prepare the dinner for this year’s Golden Gown Award Presentation.
- Members of the newly formed “Housewives’ Tennis Group”, including Mrs Robin Gurtner, Mrs Ann Berry and Mrs Jean Jones, are pictured practising at South Wagga tennis courts.
- Mt Austin High School students gathered in their charity assembly to present cheques to the Crippled Children’s Association, Spastic Centre and Lions Club Cancer Appeal.
- Nineteen-year-old Turvey Park centre, Peter Mortimer, plays his first senior representative game for Group 9 against Group 20 at Weissel Oval this week.
- Sandy Santmyers will be shorn of his flowing locks to star in the title role of “The Emperor Jones” presented by the School of Arts as part of Wagga’s Australian American festival celebrating the American Bicentennial.
- Wagga City Council voted to call tenders for the Bolton Park Complex despite a committee recommendation that it should wait until the Council knew where it stood regarding Government funding.
- The Mayor of Wagga, Ald Dick Gorman, was unopposed to become the endorsed A.L.P. candidate for the seat of Wagga at the May 1, N.S.W. election.
- Following a recent cost-saving cutback, Wagga City Council has ordered Radio Cabs (Wagga) Co-operative Society Pty Ltd to reinstitute its previous radio call service hours.
- Misses Katherine Lewis, Alison Brain, Gaye Winstanley, Anne McNeil, Linda Burnes, Sandra Everitt and Messrs Phillip Angel, Colin Smith and George Benedyka have been chosen by Wagga Rotary Clubs to receive Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) and will attend a RYLA seminar at Bathurst from May 8 to May 15.
- Wagga Coroner, Mr Bruce Jarratt, commended the Wagga Rescue Club for its very valuable assistance while searching for the body of a Sydney man in the Murrumbidgee River last month.
- Sixty riders took part in the Wagga Motorcycle Sports Club Day at Uranquinty.
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
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