Riverina Royal Visit Souvenir Booklet, 1954
Royal Tour, 1954
The plans for the Royal Progress were proudly published in the Souvenir Booklet of the Royal Visit to Wagga in 1954. Those unluckly enough not be able to find a place at one of the three main stops (City Council Chambers, the Wagga Showgrounds, and Bolton Park) instead lined the route, eager to catch a glimpse of the new Queen and her husband.
Royal Visit Executive Committee
13 February 1954
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Riverina Royal Visit Souvenir Booklet, 1954
Royal Tour, 1954
This page from the Riverina Royal Visit Souvenir Booklet breaks down the visit of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh to Wagga, almost to the minute. The intention had been for them to only be in Wagga for 123 minutes. However, "the best laid schemes..."
Royal Visit Executive Committee
13 February 1954
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Riverina Royal Visit Souvenir Booklet, 1954
Royal Tour, 1954
Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh's visit to Wagga was just a small portion of events that were organised for the crowds on 13 February 1954, as this page from the Riverina Royal Visit Souvenir Booklet demonstrates.
A carnival was held at the Murrumbidgee Pastoral and Agricultural Association Showground, with polocrosse matches, boomerang throwing demonstrations, equestrian events and marching girls. There was also a race meeting at the the Murrumbidgee Turf Club, a meeting of the Wagga Wagga Motor Cycle Club at the North Wagga Speedway, a display of diving and swimming at the Baths, night bowls and night tennis, continuous films showing at the Capitol and Plaza theatres, a ceremonial Beating of the Retreat by the 1st Recruit Training Battalion, a night trotting exhibition, a band concert and finally, a fireworks display.
Royal Visit Executive Committee
13 February 1954
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Riverina Royal Visit Souvenir Booklet, 1954
Royal Tour, 1954
This page from the Riverina Royal Visit Souvenir Booklet shows just a few of those people who were involved in making sure the 145 minutes that Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh were in Wagga Wagga went smoothly.
Those on the Royal Visit Executive Committee included representatives from the Wagga Wagga City Council; the Southern Riverina County Council; the Police Department; the Railways Department; the Education Department; the Returned Soliders, Sailors and Airmen's Imperial League of Australia; the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women; the Wagga and District Chamber of Commerce; the Postmaster-General's Department, the Wagga and District Ambulance; the Decorations Sub-Committee; the Entertainment Sub-Committee; the Catering Sub-Committee; a women's representative and 6 ex-officio members.
Royal Visit Executive Committee
13 February 1954
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