4th April 2026
Compiled from the Daily Advertiser by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society.
25 Years Ago
- Hundreds of skateboarding and rollerblading enthusiasts attended the opening of the new skatepark at Bolton Park while professional skateboarders and BMX riders thrilled the large crowd by displaying their skills using the new facility.
- Retiring after 42 years, The Rock Central School principal Malcolm Clune, said that a lot has changed over that time, not “not the kids”.
- Senior Charles Sturt University lecturer, John Messing, is heading for a five-day conference with some of the world’s leading computer programmers at San Jose, California.
- Wagga’s Val Chapman, who lived at the migrant camp as a child, opened a new exhibition on the Bonegilla Migrant Camp at the Museum of the Riverina with museum manager Thomas Graham.
- Ninety-year-old twins Maisie Parsons and Ed Bryan celebrated their birthdays with friends and family at the Forrest Centre.
- Alma Hansell, Lynne Howard, Joy Schultz, Margaret Johnston, Wilma Grinter, and Pauline Campbell are pictured enjoying hot cross buns made by Red Cross for the annual Red Cross Calling Appeal.
- Matthew Powell, Vanessa Golasch, Laura Wallace, Ashleigh Purcell, Benjamin Wallace, Kate Bassett and Cameron Purcell were among those receiving trophies when Wagga’s Asthma Swimming Club held its annual awards night.
- Mark Wentworth, administrator of Wagga’s newest nightspot, Absolute, at 146 Fitzmaurice Street, says the venture will cater for a more up-market style, which he believes is lacking in the city.
- The AMP Foundation, represented by fund managers Doug Sutton and Pat Ingram, presented $25,000 to the Riverina Cancer Care Centre, represented by chairman of the Radiotherapy Appeal, Joe Schipp, and Oncologist in charge at Calvary, Dr Jane Hill.
- Local historian, Sherry Morris, launched her new book “Wagga Wagga Floods” at the historic Wagga City Council Chambers.
- Teenager Brent Fraser, who is continuing his family’s long association with Turvey by making his senior debut this season, is pictured with his father, Mark and grandfather Stewart.
- Qantas, headed by former Wagga identity, Geoffrey Dixon, has selected Wagga as the backdrop for the latest edition of its in-flight promotional video “Welcome Aboard” to be shown on national and international flights in May.
- Rivalry was laid to rest as Group Nine rugby league clubs combined to raise money for Magpies player Andrew Maher, who was seriously injured in a game a week ago.
- Negotiations for a bakery and pharmacy to open at the Lake Village Shopping Centre will take the complex close to full tenancy less than twelve months after the new owner, Stuart Webster, took charge.
50 Years Ago
- The Reverend Mackenzie Baird of St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church has announced that he will retire at the end of July after 29 years in the ministry at the church in Wagga.
- Well-known Wagga sportsman, Lyal Parr, has harvested an outstanding crop from his twenty banana trees, which he has been growing successfully for six years.
- Wagga Association president, Ald Norman McLennan, presented the W.C.A. 1975-1976 Cricketer of the Year Award to allrounder, Bruce Mathew, at the club’s annual trophy presentation dinner held at the Leagues Club.
- Mr Jack McCurdy is pictured accepting a saddle, which he won in a competition organised by the Wagga Trail Horse Riders’ Club, from President Garry Hiscock and publicity officer, Barry Breed.
- Mr Jim Braid, managing director of Merlo Motors, was named as “Mercedes-Benz Dealer of the Year”. Both of Mr Braid’s sons also hold executive positions in Merlo Motors.
- Mrs Vo Triffett, Mrs Joan Allen, Mr Les Allen and Mr Ken Triffett made up a foursome for the annual charity golf tournament organised by Kooringal Rotary Club in aid of the Kurrajong Special School.
- Mark Crampton piloted Brian Heaney over the line to win the “wheelbarrows” race at the 4th annual Kooringal High School athletics carnival.
- Mayor Ald Dick Gorman and the Minister for Mines and Energy, Mr George Freudenstein, have both issued statements indicating that the natural gas to Wagga wrangle is about to be resolved.
- Wagga City Council Engineer, Mr C C Knott, said he sympathised with those people who wanted the Docker Street City Council Depot moved somewhere else.
- More than 130 Red Cross members attended the recent Red Cross Zone Conference held at Uranquinty.
- Mr Kevin Geaghan, a well-known Wagga sporting identity, has retired from the Wagga Post Office after 41 years of service.
- Jean Stokes won the discus, javelin, precision javelin and shot-put events to take out the Orchy cup for women’s field events at the recent 17th Paraplegic Games at Royal North Shore Hospital.
- Former top Wagga sportsman, Greg Corben, has been named in the NSW State men’s hockey team for the national championship carnival to be played in Melbourne.
- The Wagga sub-branch of the Australian American Association is holding competitions in painting and ceramics, entries in which will be displayed at the Wagga City Council gallery.
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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