A small business owner from Charters Towers cried tears of joy Tuesday afternoon after discovering the Saturday Gold Lotto ticket her daughter sent her for Mother's Day was worth over $1.9 million.
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The North Queensland winner held one of the five division one winning entries nationally in Saturday Gold Lotto draw 4045 on Saturday. Each division one winning entry takes home a prize of $1,982,910.00.
The ticket was unregistered, so officials from the Lott had no way of contacting the winner and had to wait for her to come forward and claim her prize.
Sharing her joy with an official from the Lott this afternoon, the overwhelmed woman couldn't contain her emotions after hearing the life-changing news.
"Oh my goodness. This couldn't have come at a better time!" she declared through happy tears.
"I'm so excited. Oh my goodness. I can't believe it!
"I own a small business and we've had to shut down due to coronavirus so it has been really tough.
"I was getting really worried that I'd have to close for good, but this just means I won't have to! What a relief!
"My daughter bought me the ticket for Mother's Day and sent it last week.
"She called me earlier in the week to let me know the store she had bought the ticket from had sold a division one winner and it was unclaimed. She told me I should check it straight away.
"I told her 'there is no way it could be me!' but I checked it as soon as it arrived in the post.
"I can't believe it. I can't wait to call her and tell her I've won."
When asked how she planned to enjoy her life-changing win, the woman revealed it would help her relax after the stress of keeping her business afloat during uncertain times.
"It will definitely go towards saving our business," she declared.
"But after all of this I will need a bit of a holiday so I might put it towards that too.
"I just can't wait for my husband to get home so we can celebrate together."
The winning entry was purchased at Coalfields News, Moranbah.
Coalfields News owner Janine King said she was thrilled their winner had been united with their prize.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
