At the beginning of the year, when the AFL fixture was released, North Melbourne’s round 12 match against Carlton was earmarked as one the club’s biggest days.
With past greats coming to the game and an overwhelming build up, everyone involved got more than they had bargained for - it was also the case for one particular Kangaroos’ supporter.
Kate Gartung, along with her Mother, Father and late Nan, has supported North since birth - she even had a small toy kangaroo placed in her cot in hospital.
When Kate’s daughter Sienna was born four-and-a-half months ago, controversy followed. With her Mother a Kangaroo and her Father a Bomber, a decision had to be made on who Sienna was going to support. It was a battle that Kate eventually won and North Melbourne was lucky to enlist yet another junior Roo.
“My husband and I agreed that if it was a boy he would be an Essendon supporter and if it was a girl she would go for North,” Kate told kangaroos.com.au.
“I go to the football every week with my family and we even go to interstate matches. Nan passed away earlier this year but we still bought her a membership. I used to be a member of the cheer squad and I can remember going to the 1996 and 1999 Grand Finals.”
When Kate entered Etihad Stadium she, like every other spectator, received a special scratchie card which gave her the chance to win a brand new Mazda3 valued at almost $30,000.
“I really didn’t think I was any chance of winning,” Kate recalled.
But moments later, her odds shortened significantly when she looked down and realised her card was a winner.
“At first I thought it would be a one in 1000 chance or something like that, but when I read the back of the card I saw it was a one in ten shot to drive away in the Mazda. I remember thinking ‘they want me to kick a football to win the car’.”
“I was very relieved when I was told I didn’t have to do anything physical to win it and that it was all going to come down to luck.”
When the winning ticket holders were summoned down to ground level at half time, Kate and Sienna were the last ones to arrive. That meant nine keys had already been selected and only one remained in the bag for her to take.
“I didn’t think I was a realistic chance being the last person…I was sure someone else would unlock it before I had the opportunity.”
One by one, the other supporters tried their keys in the lock and one by one they were left disappointed. Just one person stood between Kate and a brand new car, and that person barracked for Carlton.
“I was watching the big screen and couldn’t even look at the car. My heart was pounding faster and faster when each person’s key didn’t open it. There was a Carlton supporter in front me and I was sure he was going to win it.”
Kate was wrong.
When the Carlton fan’s key failed to unlock the doors, Kate went into meltdown.
“My hand was shaking and I turned the key…the rest is an absolute blur.”
It was the first time in her life that Kate had ever won anything and she believes luck had little to do with it.
“I think my Nan had a part to play in my good fortune that night.”
“I couldn’t concentrate on the footy for the rest of the game…we were looking to buy a Mazda CX-7 because we had recently had a baby so winning a Mazda3 was just amazing.”
