19 June 2017

A bloody long drive: Albany punters collect $700k Lotto windfall

A family from Albany has finally come forward to claim almost $700,000 in Saturday Lotto prize money as it was revealed the State’s 27th Division 1 winning ticket was sold at Northam Central Newsagency across the weekend.

The family said they’d spent the last three weeks completely in the dark about their win after originally checking the incorrect weeks draw results.

“I was ready to throw the ticket out but thankfully my wife decided to recheck it,” the husband said.

“Let me tell you – once we realised we’d won it was a bloody long drive from Albany,” he added.

The self-proclaimed Aussie battlers, who purchased their ticket from Albany Lottery News and Gifts last month, said the windfall meant they could look at purchasing a home.

“We might also take a holiday because, let’s face it, we’re not getting any younger,” the husband said.

Lotterywest spokeswoman Pina Compagnone said Lotto luck had well and truly taken up residence in regional Western Australia with Geraldton, Albany, Australind, Busselton and now Northam all producing Division 1 wins.

“This weekend Northam Central Newsagency sold a Saturday Lotto winning ticket worth more than $1.3 million,” Ms Compagnone said.

“Hopefully the luck carries over to Tuesday’s $10 million OZ Lotto jackpot,” she added.

Ms Compagnone said this Saturday would also see $21 million up for grabs in Lotterywest’s Saturday Lotto Superdraw.

“Punters have until 6pm on draw day to purchase tickets from Lotterywest in-store, though Play Online or by downloading the app,” she said.

“The draw is not only set to deliver thousands of WA winners – when you play with Lotterywest, a third of what you spend on tickets goes to supporting the local community,” she added.

This week’s $10 million OZ Lotto jackpot and $21 million Saturday Lotto Superdraw are expected to raise a combined $5 million to support the things that make WA great.

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Media Enquiries: Pina Compagnone: 9488 6227 / 0438 996 884