By Eleanor Wilson
A Berwick man who became an overnight millionaire in last week’s Lotto draw says he remained oblivious to the fact he was the division one winner for two days after the draw.
The Melburnian, who wishes to remain anonymous, held the only division one winning entry in Monday & Wednesday Lotto draw 4177, drawn Wednesday 27 April 2022 and takes home a total prize of $1 million.
As the man’s ticket was unregistered, officials from The Lott had no way of contacting him and instead had to wait for him to come forward to claim the prize.
Despite the lotto operator issuing a call out on social media for Berwick entrants to check their tickets, the lucky winner said he was completely unaware of the situation until he entered the newsagency on Friday to buy a ticket for the next draw.
“I just went into the newsagency to get my ticket, and they said someone had won a million dollars,” he said.
“I just said, ‘well, good luck to that person’. I handed over my ticket, they scanned it, and they said, ‘I think you’ve won it!.”
The lucky local said he plans to splurge on a top of the range guitar, as well as pay off his mortgage.
“This is life changing for us,” the man said.
He said the news didn’t hit him until he let his wife know later that day.
“I just felt normal for a bit. I was still absorbing the news, but it hit me later when I saw my wife. It will hit me even more when the money’s in my bank account,” he said.
“When my wife came home, I took her to the bedroom where I had hidden the ticket and whispered, ‘I’ve won $1 million!’. I started tearing up.”
The man purchased the million dollar ticket at Berwick Springs Lotto and News at Eden Rise Village on O’Shea Road, Berwick.
Berwick Springs Lotto and News owner Bernard Aulia said he was thrilled his latest big winner had finally discovered the sensational news.
“It’s so exciting to know that a customer has won a major prize. We wish him all the very best with his prize and hope he and his family enjoy it,” he said.
“The customers and the entire Berwick community are delighted that someone has won one million dollars from our store.”
Mr Aulia said it is the sixth division one winning entry the store had sold since opening in 2015.
“We always tell our customers, ‘You’ve got to be in it to win it’, and this latest win proves that.”
