About 300 people put their money on the table to kick off the foundation's drive to raise $500,000 to refurbish the children's ward, in a show of community support foundation spokesman Ross Stone described as "overwhelming."

Dressed in keeping with the red and black theme, punters chanced their luck on the roulette wheel or in the two-up ring and cheered their pick home in a phantom race call sponsored by local businesses.

Big spenders tippled on Pol Roger champagne in the plush "high rollers' room".

Mr Stone said the BDCU Children's Foundation committee was delighted with the response to the foundation's first major fundraiser.

Full story: SHN, Monday, March 27, 2006.