15 August 2011

A South Sydney man, visiting Queenstown for a skiing holiday has claimed a life changing $500,000 Lotto First Division prize won on Saturday’s draw.

The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, bought the ticket last week when we he was supermarket shopping after a day up the mountain with friends and family.

“We visited Queenstown last year with a group of friends and really loved the place and the vibe in New Zealand so decided to come back again this year,” says the winner.

The winner bought the ticket in Fresh Choice Queenstown and checked it on Sunday morning, not realising he had won the top prize.

“My family and friends were getting cold outside in the snow waiting for me, wondering why I was taking so long checking my tickets so when I came out and said I was a major prize winner they couldn’t believe it,” he says.

“It’s been a difficult year for us financially with our small business in Australia almost going into receivership, so this win has come at such a good time for us,” he says.

“We know it’s been a hard year for people in New Zealand too so we were really keen to come back and visit the South Island this year and spend our tourist dollar,” he adds.

“We feel like New Zealand is a home away home across the ditch,” says the winner,” I mean how good does it get here? Forty centimetres of snow on my skiing holiday and I just won $500,000 of kiwi money,” he laughs.

The winner and his family have another week’s holiday before heading back to their home South of Sydney.

ENDS

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