Ina strange twist of fate, a chef who only days before resigned from the Hardy’s Bay RSL Club has scored the best ever going-away present from his former place of work on Thursday 25th February - a $263,000 Keno jackpot.

The chef, who wishes to remain anonymous, finished his last shift at the Club on Tuesday 23rd February after deciding to pursue investment interests overseas, was genuinely shocked and delighted with his win, as were his former work colleagues.

“I’m still shaking - I’m still too excited,” the winner said just moments after discovering he’d scored the club’s biggest ever Keno jackpot win.

He said the win was perfect timing: “I’m doing some investments in Vanuatu: I’m building a house there. It’s [the investment] all paid off now.”

“I just finished my job here so I could go for two weeks and to supervise the builders: I leave this Sunday. I think I will have to upgrade my flight and suite now,” he joked.

The winner said he was in the club visiting mates before the trip when all nine of his numbers came up, creating an instant party in the small venues.

Amazingly, the win wasn’t the first for the avid Keno player, who said he picked up a comparatively small $13,000 Keno jackpot just last year.

The chef won the jackpot with an investment of just $5, playing five $1 games. His winning numbers were 17, 18, 27, 35, 36, 37, 45, 55 and 75.

Hardy’s Bay RSL secretary and manager, Chad Hartney, said he was ecstatic about the jackpot, which was five times more than the clubs total Keno winnings over the past twelve months.

Chad said he was even happier to see the cash go to such a deserving winner and a valued former club employee.

“He [the winner] has given our patrons much enjoyment and served the club well, he’s also been a valued club patron over the years,” Chad said.

“I wish him every success with his new investment venture and look forward to welcoming him back for a drink and a meal, and a game of Keno, of course,” he said.