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

6th December 2025

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

25 Years Ago

• Wagga Rescue Squad captain John Rooke, squad president Ray Willett, Mayor Kevin Wales and Wagga City Council general manager, Graeme Faulkiner are pictured attending a mayoral reception celebrating 50 years of service to the community by the Wagga Rescue Squad.

• Nearly 30 years after launching the airline bearing his name, Kendell Airlines chairman Don Kendell has announced his impending retirement on December 31.

• Ron Tickle celebrated 59 years’ service with OPSM with his wife Norma and family, friends and colleagues at the Wagga Leagues Club.

• The Haven received an array of accreditation certificates for three years in the Fred Loudon Lodge, Nan Roberts Hostel, Wendy Hucker Nursing Home and Hillside Haven.

• Professor Ian Goulter has been appointed to succeed Professor Cliff Blake when he retires as Charles Sturt University Vice Chancellor next July.

• Stewart Fraser and Lance Seaman, two of the Riverina’s most respected Australian Football administrators have been awarded an Australia Sports Award recognising their remarkable contributions.

• Janina and Josef Kovacs are pictured celebrating their wedding anniversary at the Commercial Club with their children Marija, Irene, Steve, Peter and Karolina.

• During his speech night presentation, Riverina Anglican College principal, Dr Ian Grant, said his students were battered by a popular culture of destructive and negative behaviour.

• The annual Motorcycle Toy Run was held on the weekend with motorcyclists travelling throughout the city picking up toys along the way.

• Jenny Gorrel from the Radiotherapy Appeal was presented with a cheque for $800 from Ulysses Club president Len Kennedy prior to the annual motorcycle Toy Run.

• Paul Flynn, a resident of the historic Flowerdale homestead, is leading a fight to have sound barriers installed along the Sturt Highway at Ashmont.

• National Australia Bank’s business banking management team, Gerard Ball, Ian Ferguson, Bob Bruckner, David Inglis, Wade Duncan, Neil Findlay and John Smeeth are featured promoting their agribusiness credentials.

• The world’s oldest racehorse trainer, Wagga’s Con Crowe, is pictured in hospital making steady progress after being kicked by one of his horses.

• Tim Graffen, Matthew Hope, Ben Gerhardy, Charles Marchant and Hayley Koschel were among those attending the Mt Erin and St Michael’s formal at Joyes Hall.

• Bryden Miller, Ashlee Jeffery and Jack Brookes are pictured with their faces painted at the Holy Trinity Primary School Fete.

• Greg Harris displayed an inscribed plaque recognising Wagga’s Ultra Tune franchise as the best in regional New South Wales.

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50 Years Ago

• About 30 workmen from the Railways Department spent 13 hours moving the 130-tonne bridge span into position at the Edward Street railway crossing.

• Wagga farmer, Joe Schipp, retained the state seat of Wagga for the Liberal Party with an early count before preferences giving him 8801 votes compared to his nearest rival, Dick Gorman with 7353 votes.

• The Wagga Agricultural College is amalgamating with the Riverina College of Advanced Education with Agricultural College Staff making a presentation to Principal Brian Aikins and his wife Judy at a Farewell Dinner for college staff attended by 200 people at the Wagga Commercial Club.

• Mr Herb McPherson, one of the three trustees of the Wagga R.S.L. Sub-Branch, presented certificates of Appreciation to Mrs H Fearne, president of the R.S.L. Women’s Auxiliary and Mrs T Bridle, secretary.

• The Wagga International Club arranged for the traditional visit of St. Nicholas to Wagga for St. Nicholas’ Day.

• Robert and Margaret Demkiw were the 2000^th borrowers with The Commerce Permanent Building Society and were presented with a gas stove by Mr A J Galloway chairman of the society.

• Principal of Kooringal Primary School, Geoff Potter was presented with the Inaugural Life Membership award of the Riverina Primary School Sports Association by Riverina Area Sports Organiser, Greg Mitchell.

• The musical, “Joseph and His Technicolor Dreamcoat” was a highlight of the Bishop Henschke Boys Primary School speech night.

• Tim Fischer, Peter O’Halloran, Mrs O’Halloran, Joe Schipp, Rhonda Schipp and John Colquhoun were among those attending the Southern Riverina annual Christmas party at the R.S.L. Club.

• Lyn Mulcahy, a Third-Grade student at the Jill M. Chappelow Studio of Music gained a 100 per cent maximum in a recent Australian Music Examination Board examination.

• Sherrie Hague of Wagga is pictured having her photo taken with Santa Claus by photographer, Julie Geise at Woolworths Family Centre.

• This year’s Poppy Day Appeal was a record, raising $780.54 for the Wagga R.S.L. Auxiliary.

• Ron Hall of the Commercial Club won the final of the Wagga and district champion of the club singles bowls champions defeating Geoff Smith of Lockhart 31 to 30.

• Norm Byng made presentations to section winners in the Wagga Rotaract Public Speaking Contest, Charles Houen, for the prepared section, David Huson, for the impromptu section and Wagga Apex who won the Club award.

• Wagga churches will be opened from 6pm to 10pm this Friday, election eve, for prayers before the federal general election to be held this Saturday.

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