IT was meant to be.

A few weeks ago, Moree local Brett Draper hit a kangaroo on the Gingham Road, about 20km north-east of town.

His vehicle, a 20-year-old HiLux ute, was driveable but needed repairs.

“I couldn’t find a panel-beater to fix it, so I sold the car a couple of weeks ago,” Brett said.

Brett, a retired bridge ganger with NSW Railways, needed a car to take partner, Natalie Green, to Moree Hospital three days a week for renal dialysis treatment.

“While we were working out how we would get a new car, Natalie’s daughter, Chantelle, was picking her mum up to go to dialysis.”

Brett and Natalie’s problem was solved on Saturday afternoon when Brett’s Moree Services Club membership number was drawn from more than 4500 entries as the winner of a brand-new, sparkling white MG3 hatchback.

The car, valued at $25,000, was first prize in a huge Christmas raffle promotion the club launched in September.

“We said a little prayer before we went to the club,” Brett smiled.

“This feels great, it’s unreal, and I’ve been looking for a car for a while now. I looked at getting money out of my super, but now we’ve won this.

“It’s the perfect car for us – a great Christmas present,” he said.

Brett and Natalie are regulars at Wednesday night and Friday night raffles at Moree Services Club.

“It’s a great club, and I thank the team here very much for putting on this raffle. We’re very, very happy,” Brett said.

Services Club CEO Rob Shields and JT Fossey Tamworth team members, Chris Brooks and Sam Heywood, conducted the draw in front of a clubhouse packed with members and guests.

There were also five gift vouchers valued at $1000 each – won by club members Jeff Patrick, Amanda Heaton, Donna Taylor, Phillip Ledingham and Mark Rollison – and five MG product bags donated by JT Fossey.

“I thank Chris and Sam from JT Fossey and their partners, Shannon and Abby, for coming out and supporting the club,” Rob said.

“This promotion was for club members. It’s wonderful to have a club like we have, and be able to give back to the members in this way.”

Moree Services Club board president, Gary Maidens, said the major prize result was “perfect”.

“One of our loyal members won the car, which is fantastic,” Gary said.

“We’re trying to give more back to the members, because the members own the club, and we want to continue giving back to members as much as we can.

“This is a promotion the members wanted. We thought it would be good to have the draw at Christmas time, so we started selling tickets in September.

“We’re very, very excited and plan to do it all again next year,” he said.

Words and Images: Bill Poulos