4th July 2026
Compiled from the Daily Advertiser by the Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society.
25 Years Ago
- Wagga Mayor, Kevin Wales, attended a crisis meeting regarding the future of the Murrumbidgee Life Education Centre mobile classroom, following the council’s controversial decision not to provide a donation to the van.
- Byron Bootes, Natalie Edmonds, Angela Hood, Ann Poulter, Geraldine Gore, Mick Genner, Tony Hutchinson and Phil Field were among the volunteers for Operation Winter Warmth and are pictured with some of the donations collected.
- Junee daredevil, Lawrence Legend, broke the height world record for a motorised jump when he cleared the Monte Cristo homestead, owned by his parents, on his motorcycle.
- Work has started on a 10-year $150,000 upgrade of the foreshores of Lake Albert, which will begin by repairing the walkway around the lake.
- A plant pathologist who became Australia’s longest serving university chief executive, Professor Cliff Blake, steps down from Charles Sturt University’s top job this week, and plans to grow rhododendrons in his retirement.
- The annual general meeting of the Wagga branch of the political party, One Nation, attracted 12 people who were told that a local candidate for the Federal election is expected to be announced soon.
- Anaesthetist Bill Thompson, who has practised in Wagga for 35 years, is retiring and plans to spend more time on his hobbies and with his grandchildren.
- Mount Austin High School students learned about the consequences of using drugs and consuming alcohol during a Drug Awareness Day at the school.
- Helen Turner and Cathy Hamill are both leaving the Riverina Institute of TAFE and are pictured at a farewell luncheon, held at the William Farrer Hotel Bistro.
- Outgoing Wollundry Rotary Club president, John Smith, handed over to incoming President, Gordon Braid.
- Vida and Peter Smart, Jane Hill and Mark Smith were among those attending the Hospital Ball at the Wagga RSL Club, which raised money for the Greater Murray Clinical School’s library.
- Lynne Wilson has joined her mother, Dawn, as a life member of the Wagga Basketball Association.
- Frank and Belle Ingram were the guests of honour at an afternoon tea to celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary.
- Wagga became the second regional centre in Australia to receive SBS radio services.
- Wagga had the States 14th worst assault record in May, up four places from April. Crime manager, Inspector Grahame Winson, said that since October, there had been an average of 102 assaults a month.
- A Community resource centre will be established at Ashmont after Federal Government funding of almost $250,000 was announced by Member for Riverina, Kay Hull.
50 Years Ago
- The old Glenfield homestead is being demolished, as the first stage of the Glenfield neighbourhood complex is completed.
- Following a successful bowls tournament at the Commercial Club, Beranghi Masonic Association, president, Mr Bill Thompson, presented cheques to Gumleigh Boys’ Home and Equestrian Assistance for Disabled Children.
- Local artist Heather Bell is conducting art classes for residents of the Nan Roberts Community at the Haven.
- The Borambola Tennis Club is holding a Reopening Day Tournament.
- Outgoing Wagga Lions Club president, Tony Easdown, handed over to incoming president, Stan Anderson. Other club directors for the coming year include Harry Hendriks, Jarvie McNickle, Peter Anthony, Brian Privett, Bob Connor, Bob Quigley, Bruce Hurst, Bruce Miller, Les Bagley, Tom O’Halloran, Rolfe Peters and Bruce Mulqueeney.
- Bill and Una Longmore celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary with family at the Wagga City Bowling Club.
- The Mount Austin High School “A” softball team and their coach, Barry Campey, are leaving for Sydney to compete in the State softball finals at Moore Park.
- Rotary Club of Wagga, immediate past president, Allan Pearson, is pictured congratulating new president, Eric Cuthbertson, at the Club’s 47th annual changeover dinner at the Leagues Club.
- Hugh Barnsley has been selected in the eight-man NSW team to contest the Australasian Darts Championships in Perth.
- John Brooks is advertising the elegant, warm, candlelight atmosphere of his French Tavern restaurant in the D’Hudson Arcade.
- Peter McCoullough Real Estate is sponsoring Wagga Kangaroos in Group 9 Rugby League and Wagga Tigers in the Farrer League Australian Football competition.
- 284 people attended the fourth annual Riverina Outlook Conference, held at the Wagga Agricultural College.
- The Mayor of Wagga, Ald Dick Gorman and Gasworks manager Charles Krummel are meeting Minister for Mines and Energy, Mr P D Hills, to discuss the natural gas issue.
- Aub Loch, a former Southern Riverina County Council chairman and Wagga City Council alderman, is chairman of the Salvation Army Red Shield 1976 Appeal Committee.
- More than 55 teachers and lecturers from throughout Australia and New Zealand, including ten from the Riverina College of Advanced Education, will attend a symposium on distance teaching this week.
- Sergeant Frank Fuller, of Tarcutta police, was the guest speaker at a meeting of the United Farmers and Woolgrowers Association branch at Tarcutta.
- Monday this week was the coldest day in Wagga this year, when the thermometer rose to only 8.4 degrees Celsius.
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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