Saturday Lotto millionaire: Gympie man comes forward a month after winning $1.6m
A Gympie man who struck it rich after scooping division one in a Saturday lotto draw spent more than month pondering his good fortune before fronting up to claim his prize.
The man secured a life-changing $1.6m in the April 12 Saturday Gold Lotto draw but the ticket wasn’t registered so authorities were none the wiser as to who held the winning ticket until he came forward.
He was one of three division one winners sharing in the prize pool, two others were from Western Australia.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“It’s pretty surreal!” he said when contacted by an official from The Lott.
“It’s taken a lot to sink in.
“My mum and two uncles were big Golden Casket fans. I don’t think they did very well in terms of winnings, but they would be very happy to hear that I’ve taken home division one myself!”
“I went to the local newsagency to check my ticket and the young girls behind the counter said they couldn’t pay out the prize. That’s when I knew it was big!
“I just had to sit and ponder the win for a month. I couldn’t believe it.
“I’ve also kept the win on the down-low. I haven’t told anyone about the win. I don’t think I will.”
The man is now planing how he’ll spend his winnings.
“I need a new car. I will keep the one I have and fix it up, but it’s time to upgrade it,” he exclaimed.
He bought the winning ticket at Nextra Gympie, where owner Kelly Goatham said she too was shocked by the win.
“There were certainly a few expletives when we found out we sold a division one winning entry! My co-owner Justene thought there was a snake in the house by the way I had yelled out to her!” she said.
