A limousine driver for a fundraising poker night rolled the dice and lost while picking up his celebrity clients at a Geelong waterfront restaurant this week.
The white stretch limousine was stolen from outside Fishermen’s Pier when the driver left it to collect his celebrity clients.
The Murrell Chauffeur Drive vehicle was later recovered bogged at Lara with extensive damage.
Murrell’s chief Darryl Murrell said the limousine was a write off and a devastating incident for the family business.
“Unfortunately whilst the vehicle was recovered the damage caused by the thieves was substantial and the vehicle is beyond repair,” he said.
“The incredible amount of help we received during the ordeal has only reinforced my belief that the majority of residents in our city are incredible people who go out of their way to help.”
Witnesses had earlier reported sighting the Chrysler at various locations around Geelong as the thieves apparently took the vehicle for a joyride.
The vehicle was one of two that Geelong’s Murrell Group donated to chauffeur the poker night celebrities, including Shane Warne, Billy Brownless, Brian Taylor and Brendan Fevola.
The party was shocked to see the limo heading down Eastern Beach Road when they left the restaurant after dinner.
They were about to travel from the waterfront to North Geelong’s Sphinx Hotel for the Geelong’s All In For Charity poker night which was raising money for National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF).
Australian poker champion Joe Hachem’s management group organised the celebrity fundraiser.
The company sought support from Geelong through either donations of fundraising items or buying tables of 10 or tickets for the Sphinx night, with patrons vying for prizes worth more than $50,000.
The proceeds from the Geelong poker will help NBCF “realise its vision of zero deaths from breast cancer by 2030”.
Breast cancer remains one of the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Australian women, with 42 diagnosed daily.
NBCF is Australia’s leading community-supported organisation dedicated to funding research into the prevention, detection and treatment of breast cancer. It receives no government funding.
