On a roll at Rod 'n' Reel

JACKPOT WINNER: Woodburn Chemist employee Rebecca Mitchell has the problem of how she will now spend her $6,200 winnings. A timely 40th birthday present. Photo Samantha Elley / Rivertown Times

Samantha Elley

IT'S not often someone manages to win $6200 for their 40th birthday but that is what happened to Rebecca Mitchell, of Woodburn, two weeks ago. The Woodburn Chemist employee was a regular at the weekly Jackpot Joker Draw at the Rod 'n' Reel, Woodburn, on a Friday night where patrons had the chance of picking the Joker out of 52 cards and winning the prizemoney.

"People get in to it by buying a raffle ticket and all profits go to a local charity organisation," licensee Daniel Simpson said.

"The draw starts at $1000 and if the joker isn't picked the jackpot increments by $100 each week.

"Whose ever ticket is drawn out gets to choose which card out of 52 might be the joker.

"When Rebecca won there was only one card left, so she got it automatically when her ticket was drawn out"

The jackpot had been running for 12 months and Daniel said and proceeds of $5750 went to the Woodburn Netball Club.

Ms Mitchell said the pub was packed on the night she won the draw.

"There were people from all over and I had plenty come up to me afterwards saying how great it was that a local won the jackpot," she said.

"I was in shock (when I won), I was shaking and it was very nerve-wracking to walk up there (to claim the prize)."

By the Saturday morning Ms Mitchell was still in disbelief at her previous night's win. "I could not believe that could happen on my birthday," she said. "I was still asking myself if it really happened."