A last-minute change of plans due to excessive wind didn’t stop the Gippsland Lakes Poker Run fundraiser for Gippsland Farmer Relief from going ahead and contributing a significant amount of money for those in need.

The event planned to be an on-water boating trip to five locations to collect the best poker hand – instead had to be altered to an on-road event, the more than 100 people travelling from Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club to three locations across the district by car before returning to the club to collect their final cards and reveal their hands.

Following the presentations afood van dinner and a live band kept the fundraisers entertained throughout the evening.

With the weather improving yesterday, entrants took part in a social cruise on the water around Paynesville.

Event organiser, James Blandford, who said around $5000 was raised through entries, auctions and raffles, was glad the last-minute change didn’t effect what was a superb fundraising effort.

“The one thing you can’t do is pick the weather,” he said.

“But we were very lucky. I only called the Kalimna Hotel on Saturday morning and said ‘we have a booking for 100 odd people’ and they were very accommodating.

“So we got our first cards at registrations at the yacht club and then drove to Nicholson Angling Club for our next card. We then went via Metung for a quick beer and down to Kalimna for the next card.

“We then took the road along the Tambo River to the Bruthen Hotel where they were very supportive and allowed us to sell raffle tickets and what not, before we kicked on to the Grand Terminus for our fourth card and a few guys put a bet on the horses.

“Then it was back to the yacht club for the final card where we had our expert poker judge, Kit Williams.

“Everyone had an opportunity to buy extra cards and better their hand and at the end it was George Marquis who won with a hand of four kings and an ace.”

Mr Blandford said entrants came from right across Gippsland and also Melbourne to help support the farmers in need while Melissa Ferguson, chief executive officer and founder of Gippsland Farmer Relief, spoke about how the charity operates and supports farmers.

PICTURED: Organisers, volunteers, committee members and sponsors of the Gippsland Lakes Poker Run fundraiser for Gippsland Farmer Relief, which raised in excess of $5000, surround poker winner, George Marquis, of Melbourne, at the presentations held at Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club on Saturday evening. The event, which was supposed to be held in boats on the water, had to be rearranged due to weather with entrants taking to the road to collect the best hand.