26th September 2026

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

25 Years Ago

• Wagga’s Mayor, Kevin Wales, was re-elected for a third term.

• Sturt Primary School’s Tournament of Minds team, which includes Miriam Conyers, Hannah Mineham, Chris Pettitt, Eli Hanson, Dayle Nutt and Connor Hattwell-Leach, won the State titles of the competition for maths and engineering.

• Turvey Park won the reserve grade premiership in the Riverina Football League.

• Wagga Amateur Picnic Race Club president, Richard Blake, was given an early preview by Danielle Archer, Dee Johnson and Rachelle Sly from Grace Bros of the fashions to be seen at this week’s meeting.

• Organiser John Wood, Club president, Marilyn Walter and Kerry Geale from Wagga City Council are pictured gearing up for the Sunrise Rotary Garden and Leisure Festival this weekend at the Botanic Gardens.

• Long-serving Fire Department officers, John Scriber, Bill Wray, Geoff Wheeler, Glen Shaw, Jeff Bender, David Gill, Jeff Todd and Gavin Schweicker were commended for their long service at a function held at the Commercial Club.

• Wagga businessman and Bicycle Wagga president, Graeme Buchan, is recovering after a horrific mountain bike incident three months ago.

• Wagga Show secretary/manager, John Hodges, is pictured with this year’s Miss Showgirl entrants, Kelly Grist, Julianne Carroll and Beckie Hanlon.

• After 14 years serving the health needs of countless Wagga residents, Dr Philip Zammit is preparing to leave Wagga’s Peter Street Medical Clinic for Brisbane.

• Janet Baumer took out the best specimen award with her Sydney Rock Orchid at the Wagga Orchid Society’s annual spring show held at Sturt Public School.

• Netasha Pearse, 11, became the youngest person to win the Wagga Cycling Club’s cyclist of the year award.

• Tim Fisher takes his hat off to Andrew French and Alan Lehmann, the winners of this year’s Henty Field Days Machine of the Year Awards.

• After criticism for not favouring local tenders, Wagga City Council has now resolved to “give preference to local tenderers for the economic benefit of the city where it is considered appropriate”.

• Wagga City Council endorsed the action of the Department of Environmental Services to have “Belmore”, at 44 Kincaid Street, put on the list of significant items of environmental heritage.

• Laminex has finally ended almost 20 years of production at its Bomen factory after announcing a decision almost 12 months ago to close the plant, costing Wagga almost 90 jobs.

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50 Years Ago

• Wagga chartered accountant Ald. Brian Vivian Allen was elected as Wagga’s Mayor, defeating former Mayor, Ald. Dick Gorman by seven votes to five in a secret ballot. Ald. Gorman was also defeated for the post of Deputy Mayor, seven votes to five by Ald. Harold Fife.

• NSW Sport and Recreation has announced four separate Ladies Cricket Coaching Clinics with a view to commencing a Women’s Daylight-Saving Cricket Competition.

• Ambulance Superintendent Ross Vincent is pictured with new communications equipment which will greatly improve communication in the Riverina Ambulance District.

• President of the Wagga Show Society, John Macrae, was very pleased with a record crowd flocking to Wagga’s Showground on Friday for the 109^th Wagga Show.

• Jack Rodham, chief steward for the Wagga Show sheep dog trials for the last ten years, is pictured once again on the job.

• Cheryl Fearne, of Wagga, was chosen as Miss Wagga Showgirl and Mrs Marlene Kidman of Coleambally was awarded the Wanganui Trophy for the best equestrienne turnout at the Wagga Show.

• Jim Kennedy of Walsh and Blair Solicitors has retired after 54 years and eight months in the profession.

• President of the Wagga Chamber of Commerce, Graham Irons, urged both the Chamber and Wagga City Council to bring the attention of the Government to the sub-standard facilities at Wagga Airport.

• A public meeting at the RSL Club resulted in the formation of the Wagga Bridge Club with president Alf Sundstrom, vice-president John Munro, secretary Moira Sundstrom, Treasurer, Frank Rava and publicity officer Alison Blake.

• Mrs Erolla Heard, Mrs Valda Smith, Mrs Shirley Lindner, Mrs Glen Holmes, Mrs Marie Papworth, Mr Norm Byng and Mr Jim Davidson were elected to form a leadership group for a new Cancer Awareness Group formed this week at a public meeting attended by more than 40 people.

• Almost 180 volunteers canvassed Wagga residents in the Freedom from Hunger Appeal, with $4,500 collected and more donations still to be handed in.

• A new venture by Dawn Smith, the Rondon Gallery and Craft Workshops, on Birch Road was officially opened by Ald Norm McLennan with about 90 people attending.

• 500 people are expected to attend the first ever reunion of the Taber clan in Australia this Sunday at the Lake Albert Hall.

• Assistant General Manager of the Bank of N.S.W., Mr Russell Prowse, will be guest speaker at the 40^th annual general meeting of the Wagga Chamber of Commerce this week.

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Membership of the Wagga Wagga and District Historical Society is open to anyone interested 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