General News
18 March, 2025
Local lotto win
It was anything but an ordinary Saturday for one person who purchased a ticket in that night's Tattslotto draw from Stawell Lotto - with the decision leaving them more than a million dollars richer.
The mystery person claimed $1,695,309.35 in draw 4555, sharing the Division One prize with just a couple of other winners.
The drawn numbers were 3, 13, 15, 16, 27 and 30, with supplementary 19 and 33.
Stawell Lotto owner Samantha Russell told Wimmera Mallee News Monday morning it was "highly likely" the winner was a local, although all she knew at that point was that the person was registered.
"We received an email Sunday advising us we had sold a Division One winning ticket," Ms Russell said.
"I was extremely excited.
"I would be surprised if the winner isn't a local, as we have a lot of regulars."
Late Monday afternoon a media release from The Lottery Corporation confirmed the winner was indeed a local.
The winner, and his wife, were waiting for confirmation of the win when officials called Monday morning.
“Oh, thank you so much!” he laughed.
“I’ve got my cup of coffee and now I’m ready to hear the news of my win!
“My wife is here next to me.
"She insisted on waking up this morning and listening in on this phone call.
"She said it was a lovely phone call that she just couldn’t miss."
He said he has been playing Tattslotto for a long time.
"I’ve always played the same numbers, which were chosen at random once upon a time," he explained.
“I checked this ticket on Saturday night, and I was speechless.
"There were a lot of things going around in my head.
“I refused to believe the news because I didn’t want to jinx it.
"I told my wife that I wouldn’t believe the news until I received the winning phone call, but here we are!”
The man's wife suggested spending some of the win on a honeymoon, given they didn't have one when they married more than 20 years ago.
“We would love to go somewhere in Australia," she said.
“We will have other plans for the prize, but we need to have a think about it first.”
It is the second time Ms Russell's store has sold a Division One winning ticket in the two and a half years she has operated it after a Stawell woman claimed $580,000 back in July 2022.