13th September 2025
Compiled from the Daily Advertiser by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society.
25 Years Ago
- Greg Brentnall and Mortimer brothers, Glen, Steve, Chris and Peter, five of the most famous rugby league faces of the past three decades, met up in their hometown, Wagga to help celebrate the Group Nine grand final day.
- The top two placegetters in the City to Lake Fun Run, Lachlan Chisholm and Brad Kahlfeldt are pictured having a water fight after the race to cool down.
- Wagga crime manager, Acting Inspector Grahame Winson said that Wagga police are experiencing success with their crackdown on crime.
- Construction is about to start on a $500,000 upgrade of the experimental winery at Charles Sturt University.
- Former Wagga man, Geoff Dixon has been named as chief executive offer-elect of Qantas Airways Limited.
- Australia Day Committee members, Yvonne Braid, Cedric Thomas and Kerry Geale are pictured announcing that Australia Day celebrations in 2001 will be held around the Civic Centre.
- Jim Booth, a former ABC Riverina Radio manager who stood last year as a candidate for the seat of Wagga is departing for Tamworth to take up a position as chief of staff for National Party Senator Sandy Macdonald.
- Member for Riverina, Kay Hull and acting BCS Regional Manager, Janelle Tinham are pictured with Caloola Court Hostel manager Irwin Couzens who is holding a three-year certificate of accreditation awarded to Caloola.
- Pictured attending the Rotary District Peace Communities International Conference at the weekend were Geofrey Little, Wal Breust, Bob Toose, Frank Metz, Ken Downey, Ken Smith, Dawn Smith and Jack Aubin.
- Members of the Aerodrome Emergency Committee including Ray Cox, Owen Elliott, Jeff Abell, David Gill and Ray Vallely took part in a test and review of emergency plans for the Wagga airport.
- Wagga based heavy towing company Re-Car Crane and Towing has won a contract to provide towing services in Sydney during the Olympic Games.
- A mural created by Matong Public School with supervising artist, Jim Tweddle has been installed at Wagga’s Civic Centre.
- Tony Suckling and Vince Beard are pictured presenting $750, the proceeds of a bowls day held for the 25th Anniversary of the Mary Mills bowls day, to Sister Veronica Hurling from the Home of Compassion.
- Wagga International Speedway has been backed by Royans in a one year five figure deal.
- American based retailer, “Toys R Us” will create 18 new jobs when it opens in Wagga in about a month.
50 Years Ago
- Chairman of the Interim Council of the Riverina College of Advanced Education, Mr Peter Hastie is seeking Liberal Party pre-selection for the seat of Wagga.
- Wagga’s National Bank has become the first bank in Wagga and the first National Bank in a provincial city to be outfitted with a computer processor.
- Five hundred and sixty-two motorists in the Riverina have been subjected to a breathalyser test this year with 468 appearing in court charged with driving with more than the prescribed concentration of alcohol in their blood.
- Wagga Rotarian, Stephen J O’Halloran, has been appointed a member of the Environmental Projects Committee of Rotary International.
- Harvey Milson has been appointed as resident district officer for the Department of Youth, Ethnic and Community Affairs, replacing Tom Fallon who has been transferred to Sydney.
- Ken Ashley of Albury, and Roslyn and Doug Dupille of Wagga were among those competing in the Southern Riverina Trophy Bow Hunter’s Shoot at Brickhill Reserve.
- Wagga Country Club vice-captain, Jim Speirs, won the 1975 Riverina District Golf Association 36 holes open championships at Corowa Golf Club.
- Chris Foley, Marie Thomson and Diana Southwell were among almost 200 women who attended a Calvary Hospital Auxiliary fashion parade and luncheon at the City Golf Club.
- Delegates from 16 local government councils throughout the Riverina attended a special meeting chaired by Wagga’s Mayor, Ald Dick Gorman which decided to support the Riverina Council for Social Development in social welfare projects.
- 17-year-old Narelle Reid was selected from a “field” of 18 entries as Miss Rugby League 1975.
- Riverina Australian Rules Football Club is introducing a new Friday 50/50 dance night with music by the Checkmates. Dress code is neat and tidy with tie optional.
- Wagga Technical College is introducing a deportment for business girls’ course which will be held over 18 hours and will be free of charge.
- An ecumenical church service celebrating International Women’s Year was held at St John’s Anglican Church with the main address given by Sister Anslem from Trinity High School.
- Nearly 300 invitations have been sent to leading artists throughout Australia for the first annual Wagga City Council Art Exhibition to be held in October.
- Wagga’s Mayor, Ald Dick Gorman, is hoping to establish reserves at Willans Hill, Cartwrights Hill, North Wagga and Pomingalana which in 10 to 15 years might support about 600 koala bears.
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
