A Geraldton man in his 60s is celebrating a life-changing $1.8 million win from the Saturday Lotto, vowing to swap gruelling 12-hour work days for overseas adventures.
Stunned by the Win
The Mid West resident purchased his usual Slikpik ticket at Rigter's IGA in Geraldton for the June 20 draw. He didn't check his ticket until the following week, when he went to buy another one. “I never expected to win, a Saturday Lotto ticket is just part of my weekly routine, and I didn’t even check my ticket until it was time to buy the next one,” he said.
Plans to Travel and Work Less
The winner plans to scale back his demanding work schedule and use the prize to explore the world. “I’ve always wanted to see the Chiang Mai Yi Peng Lantern Festival,” he said. “I have travelled a lot around South-East Asia, but that is one thing that I haven’t seen yet.” He also expressed interest in visiting remote islands in Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Despite his travel ambitions, the winner intends to manage his windfall responsibly. “I’ll be going to see a financial planner, I want to make sure this lasts,” he said. “I want to work less and explore more – there are lots of remote islands in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam I’d like to see.”
One of Three West Aussie Winners
The Geraldton man was one of three West Australians to win big from the June 20 Saturday Lotto draw, which saw 11 Australians each claim a near $2 million prize. His winning numbers from draw #4687 were 22, 14, 6, 21, 9, 3, with supplementary numbers 38 and 20.
For those hoping to follow in his footsteps, Tuesday's OzLotto draw offers a $30 million jackpot.
