At first, the Griffith winner of $2 million didn’t know what was going on.
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According to Griffin Plaza Newsagency owner Jenni Overs, the lucky ticket holder thought something was wrong with the ticket.
“She’d scanned the ticket with the automatic ticket-checking machine and it came up with a message saying ‘prize locked’,” Mrs Overs said.
“My husband David knew right away what was going on.”
NSW Lotteries had contacted David Overs about the winning ticket last weekend and said they had been unable to get in touch with the winner. All they knew was the ticket had been bought from Griffin Plaza Newsagency.
Mr Overs asked Emma Hardie to go into the office with the winner to call NSW Lotteries, both to unlock the machine and also tell them how much they’d won.
“”I think I was more nervous than her,” Ms Hardie said.
“I put her on the phone and they went through some personal details and I was given this strange look.
“When she found out she’d won there was this look of shock.”
Mr Overs said it felt good to see a regular customer win big.
“It’s great to see it happen,” he said.
“Lots of people buy their tickets in hopes of a big win and she’s been such a loyal customer.”
The $2 million win was part of Saturday’s $30 million Lotto Megadraw. Throughout Australia, fifteen entries shared the division one prize.
Mr Overs pointed out there had been a $1.6 million win through the newsagency before they’d taken over in July, 2014, which made the store “doubly lucky”.
“It’s great to see it go to someone deserving,” Mr Overs said.
The winner didn’t want to be identified, but Mrs Overs said she was a regular player.
“She was in such shock winning, she got off the phone and put her favourites back on,” she said.
“You see the odd $5000 win and wonder if anyone ever wins big. We’ve got someone now who’s won $2 million off a $17 ticket, which just goes to show you’ve got to be in it to win it.”
