Many people dream of winning division one just once, but for a hard-working nurse from Heathmont, the dream came true not once - but twice!
The shocked woman has confessed she is still feeling dizzy after discovering her two entries in Saturday’s TattsLotto bought from two different outlets both won a division one prize yielding her over $800,000.
The woman held two of the nine division one winning entries nationally, each taking home a division one prize of $439,800.84.
The woman’s System 7 marked entry, purchased from Euroa News & Lotto, 61 Binney Street, Euroa, also won other divisions, which bolstered her total prize on that ticket to $447,095.04.
Her second winning entry was a System 7 marked entry, purchased from Heathmonth Authorized Newsagency, 150 Canterbury Road, Heathmont and won other divisions bolstering her prize on that ticket to $447,095.04.
The east Melbourne resident takes home a combined prize of $894,190,08.
Sharing her joy with a Tatts official this morning to confirm her dual wins, the happy woman recounted how she ended up with two identical entries into the same draw.
“I thought my ticket had expired! I didn’t have the ticket with me so I couldn’t check the date so I went and bought another one,” she explained.
“I usually buy six weeks at a time so I don’t have to keep going back and I just buy them for a bit of fun!
“I mark my numbers using family birthdays which is why I was able to mark the same numbers when I was out at Euroa without my other ticket with me.
“When we checked our ticket at Euroa, the lady printed out a list of where the division one winning entries were won and on it was Heathmont which is where we live.
“I thought ‘what are the chances of someone in our suburb having the same numbers as us?’.
“When we got home I thought ‘maybe my ticket hadn’t expired’ so I checked it and we had won again!
“We went a bit over the top when we found out when we got home yesterday! I’m so glad we checked it!”
When asked how she planned to spend her double windfall, the happy winner revealed one would go towards paying off some debts and the other to some fun experiences.
“It’s a nearly million-dollar question!” she laughed.
“I don't think we’ve really got our head around it yet. I am still in a bit of shock.
“When we discovered we had won the first time we thought we’d pay off the home loan and car loan and it would take the pressure off and allow us to live happily.
“The second one had just rolled us into all new territory and we’ve got no idea! We just want to sit quietly and let it sink in for a while before we do anything.
“I look at the numbers on Sunday night and say to my husband ‘Let’s check the tickets in case we don’t have to go to work tomorrow’ and usually I say ‘oh well back to work’
“After the first one I was still planning on going back to work but after winning it twice I’m not sure if I will!
“We are going to go out to lunch today to celebrate – I’m sure there will be some champagne!”
Heathmont Authorized Newsagency owner Jasper Lai said he was excited for the customer.
“Everybody is so excited!” he exclaimed.
“This is the first division one winning entry we’ve sold since taking over the store.
“And the winner won twice! How lucky! How great for them!”
Euroa News & Lotto team member Monica Murphy-Preston said the division one winning news was great for the town.
“We are very excited!” she said happily.
“We’ve told all of our customer we’ve sold a division one winning entry and the great news has been spread around town.
“We sold a division one winning entry about five years ago so it’s great to have sold another one!”
So far this calendar year, Monday & Wednesday Lotto and TattsLotto have created 171 millionaires across Australia.
The winning numbers in TattsLotto draw 3901 on Saturday 8 December 2018 were 23, 6, 2, 25, 43 and 26, while the supplementary numbers were 9 and 7.
Across Australia, there were nine division one winning entries in TattsLotto draw 3901 – five in Victoria, three in Western Australia and one in South Australia.
The Lott’s division one winning tally has now reached 171 so far this financial year, including 65 won by Tatts customers.
In the 12 months to 30 June 2018, there were 290 division one winning TattsLotto entries across the Lott’s jurisdictions, which collectively won more than $302.7 million.
