A young mum from Forde is packing her bags for Europe after scratching one of the top prizes of $10,000 on a $1 Spring Winnings Instant Scratch-Its ticket on her birthday.
The winning Instant Scratch-Its ticket was purchased at Thistle Kiosk, Shop 004A, Westfield Woden, Keltie St, Phillip.
Speaking to a NSW Lotteries official this morning to confirm her prize, the happy winner shared how her win was actually a birthday gift to herself.
“It was my birthday and my husband said to me after he had bought my birthday cake ‘Go on, go buy yourself some scratchie tickets!’,” she explained.
“So I bought a couple of $5 tickets and got some change back and I said ‘oh I’ll just use this to buy some more $1 scratchies’.
“It was the first one I scratched that I won the money on!
“I was in a lot of shock! I didn’t actually believe it had happened. I kept asking my husband ‘Are you sure this is right? Are you sure this is right?’.
“I didn’t believe it was true for about three days!”
When asked where she kept the winning Instant Scratch-Its ticket until she could claim the prize, the disbelieving winner she confessed it had been hidden away.
“I put it in my draw and left it there for a few days while I mulled it over,” she laughed.
“It wasn’t until I realised it was really happening I took it out.
“I’ve never won anything like this before in my life! I think it’s a pretty good birthday present!”
While she had yet to decide for certain how she would spend her instant windfall, the ACT winner admitted some travel plans were on the horizon.
“I’m still undecided but I’m thinking it will be a trip to Europe!” she declared.
“I’ve wanted to go for a while and we are thinking of heading over to visit some family so that will be great!”
Owner of Thistle Kiosk Tania Dezman said she was thrilled at the news her outlet had sold a top prize winning Instant Scratch-Its ticket.
“Wow! That’s fantastic!” she exclaimed.
“I think I am as excited as the winner! It is so nice to help change someone’s life and it is fantastic it was a young family who has won.
“We’ve sold over 50 major lottery prizes over the years but it’s been a little while since we sold a top prize winning Instant Scratch-Its.
“The last one was in 2013, so hopefully this is the end of the drought and the beginning of a bit of a winning streak for our customers!”
Last financial year, there were 158 Instant Scratch-Its top prize winners across the Lott’s jurisdictions who collectively took home more than $11.28 million.
The latest range of Instant Scratch-Its tickets are available now at NSW Lotteries outlets. It can happen in an instant. It could happen to you.