21st March 2026
Compiled from the Daily Advertiser by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society.
25 Years Ago
- Wilma Arnold received a Premier’s Award for her outstanding community service, as part of this year’s Seniors Week activities.
- St. Patrick’s Day was a festive affair at the Bridge Tavern with Pat Gurr, Pat Beattie, Pat Parnell, Pat McCormick, Pat Fitzpatrick, Pat Mills, and Patrick Anderson all pictured celebrating in the Daily Advertiser.
- Eastern Australia Airlines general manager, Bevan Coote, was welcomed to Wagga by Mayor Kevin Wales. The Qantas-owned Eastern Australia is the third major regional airline to service Wagga.
- Wagga Red Cross branch president, Margaret Johnston, is pictured participating in the Red Cross Doorknock Appeal.
- The book, “San Isadore Journey,” written by Brian Junck, was launched by Bishop William Brennan during “Back to the Beginnings” San Isadore celebrations, marking the suburb’s 45th anniversary.
- A large crowd turned out for the auction of 32 Collins Street, owned by former Mayor Pat Brassil and his wife, Anne. The property was passed in by auctioneer, Wes Russell.
- Wagga Tidy Towns has named Brooklyn Drive as Street of the Year, followed by Harrier Street, Cullen Road and Amaroo Crescent.
- The Doo Duck Inn has opened adjacent to the Home Tavern in Kincaid Street.
- Almost 600 people attended a road safety seminar held at Joyes Hall.
- Managing Director, Graham Gorrel, has announced that Wayne Geale has been appointed general manager of the Riverina Media Group, publisher of the Daily Advertiser.
- Emily Smith, Luke Rutter and Gemmalee Rutter blitzed the competition in their respective age divisions at the Wagga PSSA swimming carnival.
- Reverend Geoff Flynn is settling in well to his new role as minister of the Uniting Church on the corner of Johnston and Tarcutta Streets.
- Sally Brooks, Elizabeth Petzel, Sugen Pillay, Greg Anderson, Kylie Ferguson, Jan Sears and Jenny Ward are pictured attending a Pharmacy Commencement Dinner at Charles Sturt University.
- At the launch of their 1921 season at Romanos Hotel, Chairman of Southern Inland Rugby Union, Paul Galloway, said that SIRU may only be entering one team in the Southern Provincial Championships from September.
- The first graduates from Charles Sturt University’s Bachelor of Pharmacy degree in Wagga have all secured employment in the workforce in a major coup by the University.
- More than 8000 breath tests were taken by police in the Southern Rivers Region during Operation Drink Drive, with 53 people charged with drink driving offences, including about 15 PCA offences in the Wagga City area.
50 Years Ago
- Fire caused damage conservatively estimated at $100,000 at the Wagga City Council Abattoir at Bomen, and the official opening of the new $7 million extensions set down for 4th May has now been postponed.
- Hore and Davies are seeking haberdashery, dentist, doctor and hardware tenants for the Ashmont Shopping Centre.
- An advertising feature describes how Michael Georgiou came to Wagga from Cyprus and worked with his family in the Ritz Cafe before moving, with his wife Dawn, to establish Michael’s Delicatessen near the John Macarthur Hotel, in Baylis Street, in 1964.
- Nurses at Wagga Base Hospital held a stop-work meeting in protest at the State Industrial Commission’s decision to reject a pay increase of $9 granted to them last December.
- A large lucerne storage shed was gutted by fire in Railway Street.
- Senior champions, Tania Evans and Michael Linsell, are pictured at the Gumly Public School annual swimming carnival.
- The Riverina zone final in the White Wings Great Australian Damper Bake Off was held at Wagga High School.
- K. Jones won the Senior three-lap Bicycle Handicap from G. Crowe and B. O’Hagen at the Wagga Showground.
- The Australian Football Club has installed three new snooker and billiards tables.
- Huthwaites is advertising IXL tomato sauce for 46 cents, Westons Family assorted biscuits for 45 cents per lb, and Flora table margarine for 59 cents per 500g.
- The Kooringal Community Group will mount a display of paintings at the Kooringal Mall in April. Any interested painters are welcome to exhibit and are asked to contact Mary Kidson for further information.
- Mr R. C. Coveny has been re-elected unopposed as president of the Wagga sub-branch of the Returned Services League, with Mr C. C. Knott elected as senior vice president and Mr B. J. Heenan and Mr C. E. White as vice-presidents.
- At the annual general meeting of the Wagga branch of the Society for the Welfare of Retarded Children, Mr W. L. Hurd was re-elected as President, Messrs. R. Kelly and N Kitney were re-elected as vice-presidents, Mr D Hamilton was re-elected as secretary, and Mr A Davis was re-elected as treasurer.
- Retiring treasurer, Mr E Lennon, announced that the Wagga Golf Club made a profit of more than $11,000 in the year ending December 31, an improvement of $5224 over the preceding period.
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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