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

8th November 2025

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

25 Years Ago

• The Wagga Tennis Association and Wagga City Council officially opened the Jim Elphick Tennis Centre at Bolton Park honouring the work for tennis by Jim Elphick over more than thirty years.

• Former O’Farrell Cup players, Bill and John Walker, John Brazier, Albert Jones, John Stuckings, Keith Ferguson, Col Stewart, Kevin Farrell, Cliff Woodland, Warren Smith, Steve Rixon and Stan Dacey are pictured attending a mayoral reception to mark the 75^th anniversary of the O’Farrell Cup cricket competition.

• League legends, Laurie Daley and Andrew Ettingshausen are visiting Wagga and held a children’s football clinic at Weissel Oval.

• The Wagga RSL sub-branch and Wagga RSL Women’s Auxiliary are holding an annual Poppy Day Appeal in the lead-up to Remembrance Day.

• The Wagga Townhouse Motor Inn has completed a $2.5 million upgrade which has improved its motel rating from 3.5 stars to 4.5 stars.

• Jan Brill and Annette Gaynor were presented with life memberships during a luncheon celebrating the 62^nd anniversary of the Yathella Coursing Park CWA held at the Garden Court Restaurant.

• Councillors John Harding and Dave Palmer are pictured at a reception held for Miss Wagga and the Community Princess at the Wagga RSL Club.

• The former Gasmart building in Baylis Street is being fitted out for the return of a Fletcher Jones store to Wagga.

• Wagga couple, dual citizens, Paul and Caroline Murray who have lived in Australia for the past fourteen years are paying close attention to the presidential elections in their former homeland, the United States.

• Amanda Neeves was selected as the Fashions on the Field’s Best Dressed Lady at the Melbourne Cup Day races at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club.

• Janet Easdown and Barbara Bullock are pictured viewing a book of clippings in preparation for the celebration of St Andrews church 130^th anniversary later this month.

• The 13^th Annual Children’s Medical Research Christmas Fair is on this week at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club.

• Wagga City Council has announced it will open a new service counter aimed at improving technical service.

• Wagga licensing sergeant, Gary Bowden, warned that countless 15 to 17 year olds continue abuse their bodies and flout the law by underage drinking.

• Coles Supermarkets general Manager, Ted Moore will be guest speaker this week at a Wagga Chamber of Commerce and Industry business luncheon at the Wagga Commercial Club.

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50 Years Ago

• Joe Schipp became the Liberal Party candidate for the State seat of Wagga.

• In a shock move, Wagga Mayor, Ald Dick Gorman was endorsed as the Australian Labor Party’s candidate for the seat of Wagga after previously endorsed candidate, Ken Fletcher, stood down.

• Gino Boetto and his wife Pasquina are pictured attending the recent Wagga International Club Oktoberfest celebrations in the Kyeamba Smith Hall.

• Wendy Marshallsea is pictured taking a big swing batting for Ashmont against South Wagga in a Wagga Women’s Softball Association match at French Field.

• Thirty people coming from countries including England, Kenya, Scotland, Malaya, Singapore, Greece, India, Italy, Northern Ireland, Southern Rhodesia and Yugoslavia were naturalised Australians at a special ceremony conducted by Mayor, Ald Dick Gorman.

• A team of “would-be” female footballers including Robin Milligan, Maureen Demmery, Kathy Demmery, Kathy Milligan, Pam Sheather, Bernice Payton and Doreen Williams have challenged a team of “once-were” players to a game of touch Rugby League with proceeds going to Miss Kathy Milligan an entrant in the Miss Wine Quest aiding the NSW Spastic Children’s Centre.

• The Netherland Ambassador Mr R C Pekelharing unveiled a sign at Amsterdam Crescent before attending celebrations organised by Wagga’s Dutch community to celebrate the 700^th anniversary of the City of Amsterdam.

• Fulham Gardens in Gurwood Street is selling strawberries for 55c a box, apples, 10 for 39 cents and bananas, ten for 49 cents.

• In a letter to Town Clark, Mr W R Ellis, president of the North Wagga Residents Association, Mr R G Harwig, condemned Wagga City Council for its “nonchalant” attitude towards the people of North Wagga concerning the permanent levee protection of the area.

• Prize money for the Centenary of the Wagga Gold Cup to be held in 1976 will be $15,000 more than double this year’s event worth $7000.

• The local Wagroos team consisting of Lloyd Pigram, Bruce Lennon and Michael Burgess won the Boys Under 15 title at the Australian Orienteering relay championships held at the Livingstone State Forest at Burrandana.

• Max Taylor, Reg Pollett, Ron Russell and Tom Davey were made life members at the annual general meeting of the Turvey Park Rugby League Club.

• Mrs June Sutherland, a Mount Austin High School teacher has been endorsed as the Australia Party Candidate for the Wagga by-election scheduled for 6^th December.

• Notices are currently being issued by Wagga City Council requiring all vacant land to be cleared of grass and any other flammable material.

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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