November 14, 2026
Compiled from the Daily Advertiser by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society.
25 Years Ago
- Local business identity, Charlie Blackburn has written to the Wagga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, suggesting the formation of a task force to stamp out shoplifting and petty crime in Wagga’s central business district.
- The Loreto Home of Compassion is to undergo a two-million-dollar redevelopment carried out in three stages.
- Simon Smith is taking over as the new station manager at 2AAA from retiring station administrator, Noel Bottrell.
- Wagga Leagues Club general manager, Terry Blackwood, tried to hose down speculation that the club intended to sell Staunton Park, saying that “it will be there for juniors so long as it is needed”.
- Greg Conkey, editor of the Riverina Leader, landed a hole-in-one on the 14th hole at the Wagga Country Golf Club.
- Tumbarail drivers Colin Henzel and Mark Potties were pictured at Ladysmith taking visitors on a 1.5-kilometre stretch of rail in a ganger’s car from the early 1900s.
- Brothers Jared and Travis Bailey are pictured with a police pursuit motorcycle at the Wagga Police open day.
- Wagga cycling legend, Barry O’Hagen and Joe Medau were presented with life membership of the Tolland Cycling Club.
- Mount Austin High School music teacher, Joanne Searson, helped students, Meredith Adams and David Tassell, rehearse “Song for Australia” written by Isobel Tuck and performed at the “Uranquinty Remembers” concert this week.
- Graeme Hull is pictured toasting the success of his wife, Kay, in retaining Riverina for the National Party.
- Kurrajong Early Intervention Service celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Wagga Commercial Club.
- North Wagga Public School pupils sang Christmas carols at the launch of the K Mart Christmas Tree Appeal.
- John Wood, Bernard Benson, Peter Humble, Marilyn Walter, Bob Wheeler, Dennis Blackett, Peter Perkins and Rodney Parsons are pictured attending a Sunrise Rotary reunion of presidents from the last ten years.
- Jean and David Thornton celebrated their golden wedding anniversary recently with 40 family and friends at the Golden Seasons restaurant.
- Mila Green, Alice Johnson and Ashleigh Thompson are among those competing in the Model Quest 2001 Riverina final at the Leagues Club.
- Dancer Leanne Nicol and singer Heather Wall are set to storm the stage in “Something to Sing About 2001”.
- Lockhart took out three awards at the New South Wales Tidy Towns Awards held in Dubbo.
- Former National Party candidate for the State seat of Wagga, Jim Booth, is seeking preselection for Tamworth.
50 Years Ago
- The president of Wagga Jaycees, Robert Anderson, said that the change to accept women as members of Jaycees was welcome and should quickly prove they have much to offer.
- Wagga Leagues Club is currently undergoing extensive renovations and extensions valued at half a million dollars.
- Past C.W.A. Group President, Miss Dorothy Ross, will address a meeting at C.W.A. House entitled “Think Tank”.
- The name Mortimer has become synonymous with Wagga during the family’s 14½-year stay, but Sergeant Ian Mortimer has been transferred and will soon move to Inverell with his wife, Elaine.
- 2WG’s Program Director, Mal Brentnall, celebrated 40 years with the station.
- Chris and Russell Pearce were both presented with trophies as road racing champions of the Wagga Police Boys Club Cycling Club.
- The site of the former Pastoral Hotel on Fitzmaurice Street sold at auction for $90,000.
- Graduating nurse Miss Mary-Ann Gain received the prize for the highest mark achieved in a practical exam from Mr L. J. Kennedy, Chairman of the Wagga Base Hospital Board of Directors.
- Nineteen-year-old Leonie Maynard, a sales clerk at Lloyds Homes, is an entrant in this year’s Miss Wagga Quest.
- Panda Toys, near Huthwaites, is having a 10% Off Toy Sale.
- Girls from Mt Erin High School helped with the activities for the aged and infirm at St John’s Hall.
- Three boats and twelve members, Ken Beattie, Doug Christian, Bruce Malcolm, Peter and Ron McCullough, Bruce Duff, Ian Hill, Greg Christian, Lindsay Swan, Ian Hilton, Mike McCall and Mark Watson, will represent Wagga Boat Club in the world’s longest ski race, the bridge-to-bridge classic up the Hawkesbury River.
- Well-known Mangoplah district grazier, Mr Harry Mohr, was elected president of the Riverina Australian Rules Football Club, taking over from Bert Schmidt, who has retired and Robert Kennedy was again elected to the board.
- Mrs Smithard was re-elected as president of the Cartwrights Hill branch of the CWA. Mrs Hull was also re-elected as treasurer, Mrs Skeers as cultural officer and Mrs Pollard as international officer.
- For the first time in five years, the Wagga Show Society recorded a profit in the year ending June 1976.
- Wagga had a population of 34,301 on June 30 this year, an increase of 5386 in the last five years.
- Australia Post announced that Wagga has been included in extensions to the Intrastate Priority Paid Service.
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