A MEADOW Springs couple in their 50s are WA’s newest millionaires, having claimed the Division 1 prize from Wednesday night’s Lotto draw.
The husband and wife have been playing Lotto for 30 years and said a tough 2016 has made the win all the sweeter.
“Finding ongoing work hasn’t been easy in this economy,” the husband – a FIFO worker – said.
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“We were preparing to sell our house to pay the bills.”
The couple, who won with their own unique set of numbers, said they originally thought they had won a couple hundred dollars.
“We were over the moon,” the wife said.
“It wasn’t until we visited Lotterywest that we realised there were a few more zeros on the end of our win.”
The couple said the $1 million means they can pay off their mortgage and upgrade the family car.
“We have five children and I work as a carer,” the wife said.
“Sometimes it’s like playing Tetris trying to fit wheelchairs and walking frames in the boot and getting a bigger car will certainly make life easier.”
The winning ticket, which was sold at Nextra Forum West Newsagency in Mandurah, is the second Division 1 ticket sold by the store in less than 12 months.
The winning couple said Lotterywest’s support for the community had always encouraged them to play.
“We don’t mind when we don’t win,” the wife said.
“That’s because we know our money is going toward helping someone else.”
In the last 12 months alone, Lotterywest has contributed almost three quarters of a million dollars to the City of Mandurah through Lotterywest grants.
This includes contributions to the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, Mandurah Volunteer Rescue Group, Greenfields Family and Community Centre and Pat Thomas House.