Forty homes were lit up as part of the annual Athol Street Christmas celebrations, said organiser Ray Lucas.

Wagga’s old Phoenix Hall, originally the Builders Arms Hotel in 1877, has been redeveloped as the new offices of Peter Davies Real Estate.

Wagga firm Teasco has won a $200,000 contract to supply skylights for the Sydney International Aquatic Centre being constructed for the 2000 Olympics at Homebush.

Murrumbidgee Turf Club chairman, Murdoch McLennan said, that delays to a $2.3 million training track development has caused next year’s Wagga Gold Cup to be rescheduled from May until November.

Spokeswoman for the Wagga Asthma Foundation, Gay Karas, warned that the death this week of a local man from an asthma attack was a “strong warning” to other asthma sufferers.

A giant crow is being considered by Tourism Wagga Wagga in its search for a major tourist attraction.

Wagga City Council is fighting with Australia Post to retain the city’s former postmark which has been replaced by that of the Riverina Mail Centre.

Wagga school girl athletes, Katherine O’Neil and Melanie Bradley both won bronze medals at the Australian All Schools Championships in Canberra.

Manchester and curtain specialty store, Mansours is opening a new store in Wagga next to Country Road in Baylis Street.

50 YEARS AGO

The first concert held by the Yvonne O’Connor Dancing School was held at the Civic Theatre and included dancers Fiona Wright, Debbie Finn and Therese Simpson.

Ald R J Harris was re-elected Mayor of Wagga for the third successive year. Ald Cec Toy was elected deputy mayor.

Wagga City Council raised the mayor’s allowance by $250 to $2500, the first increase in seven years.

More than 1500 people with burning candles attended Carols by Candlelight in the Victory Memorial Gardens which featured a large choir of 150 school children singing Christmas songs.

Sergeant Robinson, Superintendent of Riverina Traffic Police said that a breathalyser machine will arrive soon and that a special 24-hour squad will use the machine to test drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Meanwhile David Jones is selling a “Breathmeter” kit said to be identical to that used in preliminary roadside testing by police.

Mail officers, Bill Marsh and Sid Smith, are pictured in The Daily Advertiser sorting thousands of Christmas mail parcels at Wagga Post Office.

Calvary Hospital Ladies Auxiliary took more than $5000 at the annual Calvary Hospital fete.