During the Sunday session out on the sunny back deck of the Burns Club in Kambah, Ann Poole was super-excited when her name was called out over the public address system.
She'd thought she'd finally won the seafood raffle.
"Everyone was cheering and I thought, 'Wow, everyone's really happy I won the raffle'," she said, with a laugh.
But the prize was a lot better that - it was a carefully thought-out and top-secret marriage proposal from her long-time partner and Burns Club director Rohan Samara.
Rohan, assistant director of security operations at the Canberra Hospital, and Ann, the finance officer at Forrest Primary School, met more than 12 years ago at the club, where they have also made firm friendships.
Rohan managed to invite more than 100 family and friends, including from poker and rural fire service circles, to the club, with Ann having no idea it was anything other than a get-together.
"I had no idea, none at all," she said.
"I asked my son to come, as he's the only child I have in Canberra, and he brought some mates. I thought he'd bring one and he brought about 10 friends."
The couple is travelling to Las Vegas, ostensibly to play poker, but where they will now also get married on June 5. Elvis may be the celebrant. Rohan even factored in a honeymoon afterwards on a Caribbean cruise.
The couple are perfectly in sync, enjoying many common interests including the coast, cards and travel.
"We totally understand each other," Ann said. "He's just really thoughtful and caring. It's such a relaxed relationship. It's beautiful."
Rohan said Ann was "such a beautiful, kind, caring soul".
"She is always hospitable to everyone," her said.
The couple at Christmas even have an open invitation for anyone alone to have lunch at their place in Greenway.
"We also play jokes on each other, we've done it since day one," Ann said.
She'll have to think of a good one to get Rohan back now.
