The intensely private daughter of the late West Australian mining magnate Lang Hancock reaffirmed her aversion to the media when she dodged photographers outside the Crown Palladium, her minder jumping in front of her like a devoted human shield. Given his agility, he would outlast the Duracell bunny.

Wearing a black kaftan for the black-tie event and with her long hair flowing, Mrs Rinehart sat with her close ally, Murdoch columnist Andrew Bolt, near the 80-year-old Italian screen goddess.

Mrs Rinehart embraced the Italian theme that combined the best of a traditional suburban dinner dance with a society soiree by dancing with trucking magnate Lindsay Fox to the popular Italian classic L'Italiano, made famous by singer Toto Cutugno and sung by the band Black Magic.

This reporter witnessed the billionaire's boogie and attests that she is a skilled dancer with wonderful rhythm. It was a rare sight to witness her letting her hair down in the fun and relaxed sense.

I tried to take a photo but her minder kept jumping in the way like he had a bad case of Saturday Night Fever. He, too, was what you call a good dancer.

Persistence is the key to journalism and I managed to take a photo in challenging lighting.

On the dance floor, Mrs Rinehart posed for photos with fans and I when I asked for a photo, she declined, saying it was because I was "media", uttering the word like it was an unfortunate condition.

Later on, Mrs Rinehart grooved on the dance floor with John Bertrand, the chairman of the event's beneficiary charity, the Alannah and Madeline Foundation.

With tickets costing $500 to $2000, Mrs Rinehart was in good company with the "rich and famous" of the Italian community. When an Armani gown donated by Ms Loren was auctioned, Mrs Rinehart bid up to $22,000 but eventually lost to glamorous blonde arts patron Krystyna Campbell-Pretty, who paid $23,000.

It is also believed that Linfox trucking magnate Lindsay Fox and his wife, Paula, also bid for the gown.

The ball was organised by Connie Paglianiti, the managing director of events company Eventcepts, and attracted 500 guests who wanted to bask in the glory of Ms Loren, who wore a plunging floor-length sparkling black evening gown.

Some guests who paid top dollar for tickets were disappointed to discover that the advertised nine-course menu by Italian chef Enza Liberati was actually four courses with a lime and mint sorbet palate cleanser. In a highly unusual catering twist, two components on the plate were counted as two courses, such as seared blue-eye cod and saffron risotto. For dessert, three mini-cakes on one plate were counted as three courses.

Crown, a silver sponsor of the ball, referred media inquires about the padded-out menu to Mrs Paglianiti and comment has been sought.

However, the food and drinks flowed efficiently and there was radiant sentiment in the room, with the star attraction gracefully acknowledging the mob of fans that swarmed around her when permitted by security guards.

There were video tributes from Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Daryl Somers, who had an ethnic moment by calling himself "Darolo", and Andrew O'Keefe. Bert Newton, who wore a chef's hat and moustache, joked that he would always remember his night with Sophia in Nar Nar Goon.

Gina Rinehart wasn't the only Gina in the room. Another brunette who stole the show was Gina Liano, the glamazon Italian barrister from the Real Housewives of Melbourne, who wore a knockout red gown. Another VIP guest was the Italian consul-general Marco Maria Cerbo.

Victorian government MP Lily D'Ambrosio, representing Premier Daniel Andrews, sat next to Ms Loren and translated proceedings. The Italian cinema legend who lives in Geneva was particularly impressed with opera singer Elly Oh's tribute to Luciano Pavarotti.

Ms Loren flew out of Melbourne on April 19, leaving her beautiful scent behind for fans young and old.