18th October 2025
Compiled from the Daily Advertiser by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society.
25 Years Ago
- Gary Wells, Wagga City Council’s director of engineering and technical services, called for a rate increase of 24 per cent to fund urgently needed repairs to the city’s underfunded road network.
- John Wood and Peter Perkins from Sunrise Rotary, Elaine Larkin from Tidy Towns and Kerry Geale, Council director of recreation and cultural services are pictured discussing arrangements for the Sunrise Rotary Garden and Leisure Festival.
- Wagga identity and dry-cleaning pioneer, Mick Byrnes, died at Calvary Hospital aged 85.
- 19-year-old, Wagga’s Lee Cox set several personal bests to claim a silver medal at the Paralympic Games in Sydney.
- Sister Kay Bryan and Sister Carmel Wallis are pictured at Mt Erin Convent which opened its gardens to the public over the weekend as part of the Australian Open Garden Scheme.
- Well known second rower Keith Harvey was farewelled from Wagga by colleagues at the RSL Club after a decade of playing rugby league in Wagga.
- Award winners, Josh Parmenter, Matt Noonan, Jason Wadley, Damien Powell and Gerald Pieper are pictured attending the Wagga Tigers end-of-season function.
- Judy Ferguson was awarded life membership of the Wagga Hockey Association for her efforts in coaching and her position as the Association’s secretary for many years.
- Richard Baker, Murray Rynehart, Mark Cox, Andrew Hunter, Gary Hoffman, Gary Lloyd, Rob Nolan, Danny McFadden and Peter Andersen were among those attending the Turvey Park Australian Rules Football Club’s under 19’s premiership team 20-year reunion.
- Manager, Craig Taylor is pictured at the new Bendigo Bank branch which opened its doors in Baylis Street.
- Jennie McDermott, Bishop Godfrey Fryar and Jan Batt are pictured preparing for the Festival of Flowers to be held at St John’s Anglican Church.
- A huge goanna more than 1.2 kilometres long has been created in a Paterson’s curse infested paddock by a group of CSU students using satellite navigation equipment.
- Mayor Kevin Wales and General Manager Brian Andrews discussing a Very High-Speed Train Project with Speedrail general manager, Josh Baker.
- The NRMA said that Wagga’s petrol price rise of 4.3 cents in September was the second highest in the State.
- Wagga’s Mayor, Kevin Wales, reacted angrily to a national media article which slammed the Wagga suburb of Ashmont stating that the main industry in the suburb was employment.
50 Years Ago
- Wagga Kangaroos’ Rugby League Club President, Maurie Kelly, was presented with life membership by club stalwart and fellow life member, Bob Ashton.
- Arthur Dixon presented Wagga Kangaroos’ centre, Chris Mynott with his club’s first grade best and fairest award at the club’s award dinner held at the Leagues Club.
- Leader of the National Country Party, Mr J D Anthony, will be guest speaker this week at a Wagga Country Party State Electorate Conference Dinner at the Wagga RSL Club.
- Colin Knott, Mick Rudd and Graham Wenzke from Wagga Council and Denis Oke and Ian Mortimer representing Wagga Police Citizens Boys Club inspected the existing badly cracked bike track at the Cricket Ground which is being considered for an upgrade.
- A micro-computer which provides comprehensive “in-house” property management for real estate agents has been installed by Breust’s Real Estate.
- State schoolboy batting star, Ian Merrit is pictured playing a defensive shot in a first-grade match against Marian at the Wagga Cricket Ground.
- Mr and Mrs T L a’Beckett of the Rock are pictured accepting the Butcher’s Trophy for the winning carcass in the Wagga Beef Cattle Society competition.
- Mr and Mrs Wal Fife, Miss Rhonda Siebels and Sir Eric and Lady Willis were pictured attending the Wagga Liberal Ball at the Plaza Ballroom.
- CSU students and lecturers raised $200 which they presented to Wagga Meals on Wheels Treasurer, Mr Bill Howells.
- Mr John Taylor and Mr Colin White were made life members of the Returned Servicemen’s League at a dinner held at the RSL Club.
- The Wagga International Club is staging its Oktoberfest this Saturday at the Kyeamba Smith Supper room.
- Allan Honetsett, Ian Horton and Ken Howarth were among the reserve grade trophy winners with Len Skinner, Darryl Kelly and Allan Cheshire among first grade trophy winners at the Magpies trophy presentation held at the Leagues Club.
- Two well-known Riverina grazing identities, Mr H V McKay of Henty and Mr Dudley Ross of Holbrook won the grand champion award in the Wagga Beef Cattle Society 1975 weight gain and carcass competition.
- Peter Barnes, director and general manager of James Barnes Pty Ltd in Wagga has been named as the first president of the National Meat Canners Association.
- Junee singer, Rory Logan won the City of Wagga Trophy for the most promising competitor in the vocal section of the 55th Wagga Eisteddfod.
- The Wagga Horticultural Societies Annual Spring Flower Show is being held at the Turvey Park Methodist Hall.
- The Second Wagga Scout Group’s grand spring bottle drive will be held this 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
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