23rd May 2026
Compiled from the Daily Advertiser by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society.
25 Years Ago
- After almost half a century in the “rag trade”, John Ricardo of Rick’s Clothing Co. is handing over the reins of the popular business to his daughters Jaqui and Kim.
- Life member, Edwin Brooks, told the annual general meeting of the Wagga Ratepayers and Citizens Association that the body needed new blood to survive. These sentiments seemed to be reflected in the election of Kerry Pascoe as chairman and Stephen Groch as publicity officer.
- Well-known ninety-year-old Wagga resident, Jack Walsh, was killed in a motor vehicle accident at the corner of Lloyd and Holbrook Roads.
- Peter Baker, Graham Gorrell, Trevor Webb and Rod Bartlett are pictured acknowledging ten years of partnership and financial support between the Daily Advertiser and the Wagga and District Cricket Competition.
- Long-serving AMP agents Pat Ingram, Ray Rootes and Bill Kalis are celebrating a combined 91 years of service to the insurance giant.
- More than 500 people attended a Pontifical Concelebrated Mass of Christian burial at St Michael’s Cathedral for former Wagga Catholic priest, Father John McGrath, who died in Rome on 18th May.
- Ann-Marie and Clive Dosser are pictured celebrating 21 years in business as Dosser’s Quality Bakery.
- Derek Taprell has qualified for the National All Schools Swimming Championships to be held in Perth after winning four medals at the New South Wales All Schools Swimming Championships.
- Carmelite Sister Valda and Wiradjuri elder, Florence Grant, are pictured in front of a Wiradjuri stained glass window which will be unveiled this week.
- Almost 200 bidders registered, and hundreds of people attended to view some 800 collectibles auctioned by Michel and Carolyn De Waegeneire, who are moving to the South Coast.
- Diana Lovett and Hugh Crawford are pictured putting the finishing touches on the School of Arts Community Theatre production of Two, opening this week at The Basement Theatre.
- After having only three owners in nearly four decades, the popular Wagga business Dairy Delite has been sold to well-known sporting identity Peter Dowdle.
- About 120 Year Seven students from St. Michael’s Regional High School will attend a three-day camp at the Borambola Sport and Recreation Camp to learn about Aboriginal culture and issues.
- Issues ranging from employment to infrastructure and from natural resources to people were on the agenda of a Wagga City Council strategic planning meeting in Canberra, attended by senior council staff and 13 of the city’s 15 councillors.
- Ray Cox and Justin Bentley from the Turvey Park Fire Brigade are pictured getting into the spirit of Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea.
50 Years Ago
- Horrie Rex, chief executive officer for the hospital, Ray Lovett from the Public Works Department and Herb Siebels, supervisor for Siebels Bros builders, are pictured observing construction on the first stage of the five-stage Wagga Base Hospital Development scheme.
- The most successful luncheon ever held by the Wagga Chamber of Commerce was held at the Leagues Club when the intricacies of the new Bankcard scheme were explained to 118 Chamber members and guests.
- Kendell Airlines is advertising thrice daily flights to Melbourne and Canberra and daily flights to Merimbula, Griffith and Narrandra.
- Rhonda Bell, Isabel Robinson, Beryl Moore and Margery Guiver are pictured attending the 18th Quota Club of Wagga Installation Dinner.
- Rosemary Kearney, Lois Beattie, Mal Newman and Irene Kendall from the ANZ Bank are pictured participating in a nationwide walkathon to raise funds for the National Association for Training the Disabled in Office Work (NADOW).
- Anne Murdoch of Wanterbadgery and Roger Grose of Wagga were part of the large crowd attending the gala Wagga Picnic Race Club Ball at the Kyeamba Smith Hall.
- Eric Worrell from the Australian Reptile Park at Gosford is in Wagga to advise Wagga City Council on the preservation of wildlife species in the district.
- “The Diamond House”, J J Speirs Pty Ltd, one of Wagga’s oldest established dealers, has joined the Angus & Coote group, New South Wales’ leading jewellers.
- The Mayor, Ald Dick Gorman, Gasworks Engineer Mr C S Krummel and Chairman of Council’s Trading and Utilities Committee, Ald Charles Houen, met with the Minister for Mines and Energy, Mr P D Hills, pointing out the importance of natural gas to Wagga’s survival as a growing town.
- Two additional demountable classrooms for Lake Albert Primary School have been made available by the Department of Education.
- Garbage collection hours will remain the same in Wagga, from midnight to 4 am despite attempts made by collectors to return to the old hours, which began at 7 pm.
- An old gramophone record of the song “Wagga Wagga” recorded in London in 1924 by Jack Hylton has been added to a collection of old gramophone records and sheet music at the National Library in Canberra.
- Weight Watchers is starting in Wagga and will meet weekly on Wednesdays at the Methodist Hall in Johnston Street.
- Wagga Technical College is offering three new courses in small business management, children’s art and a course for private pilots.
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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