Tatura’s Jenny Lagozzino with game show host Grant Denyer.
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A local family struck gold on a game show, and when their victory reached the big screen, the community came to celebrate alongside them.
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On Thursday, June 19, the whole of Tatura was invited to gather around their televisions and at Top Pub Tatura to tune into Channel 10 for a grand surprise.
News had been brewing around town that a few neighbours had made it big on national television, but nobody knew who they were.
To everyone’s delight, the featured stars were none other than the Lagozzino family themselves.
It turns out that Jenny Lagozzino, together with her son D’Arcee Dee and his partner, Renee Nolan, had secured spots on Deal or No Deal, keeping their appearances under wraps until the highly anticipated reveal.
In a thrilling outcome, Ms Lagozzino secured an impressive $20,000.
During the viewing, attendees enjoyed dinner while participating in various fundraising activities to support local resident Darin Jones, who has cancer.
They also enjoyed Northend Bakehouse’s famous vanilla slices, after Ms Lagozzino secured a slab from the bakery’s auction during its recent fundraising efforts.
“It was so great at first, I thought maybe no-one would want to come and watch it, but then they all started coming in and yeah, we had a great crowd turn up,” she said.
Deal or No Deal participants Jenny Lagozzino, Renee Nolan and D’Arcee Dee.
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Ms Lagozzino recalled that when she was asked which case she would choose if she made it on the show, she initially picked case 18.
But when it came down to the final round, she followed her gut and chose case 17.
“It’s very nerve-wracking, I don’t think even when you watch it, you don’t realise when they’re asking you ‘deal or no deal’, the crowd pressure is incredible,” she said.
“It’s like being at the football, where you hear everybody yelling.
“It looks like you have a long time to make up your mind — it’s seconds, it’s actually seconds.”
Although she could have potentially won more, Ms Lagozzino does not regret a thing.
With her winnings, she plans to give half back to the Tatura community.
A few years ago, Top Pub Tatura treated volunteers from around town to lunch.
Now, Ms Lagozzino plans to do the same, but for everyone in town.
“I actually really didn’t have any plans of doing anything for myself,” she said.
“I didn’t want that money for myself.”
The other half will go to Mr Dee and Ms Nolan to support their growing family.
More than 80 people gathered at Top Pub Tatura to watch the show as it aired.
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Guests that evening enjoyed Northend Bakehouse’s famous vanilla slices.
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Jenny Lagozzino with Tatura’s other winner, Ebony Moore, who struck it lucky in the quiz hosted that evening and took home a Deal or No Deal board game.
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