Winning a home: How a $2 ticket could change your life
It would leave you breathless, wouldn’t it?
Maybe a little unsure about your sanity?
I mean, picking up the phone and taking a call that changes your life doesn’t happen every day!
Some lucky people have had the experience, like those whose numbers came up on Tattslotto and others – like winners of the Mater Foundation’s Home Lottery – who paid $2 for a ticket and then probably forgot about it ...
Until, that is, they had Mater’s commercial director, Bruce Dennehy, on the line trying to convince them they had won the main prize: a million dollar house in an exotic location somewhere along the east coast.
Good causes, such as Mater’s, are easy to support. The lottery has been running for more than 50 years giving families an opportunity to win luxurious homes, holidays - and even gold. And the best part is that all money raised goes to the Mater Mothers’ and Mater Children’s Hospitals, helping sick kids and babies.
“With six million-dollar properties up for grabs in the raffle each year, the chance of winning is achievable,’’ Dennehy – ever the salesman - said.
But rather daunting: Such as when the winner of Mater Prize Home lottery No.249 – the most recent - opened her life-changing winner’s letter... and thought her eyes were playing tricks on her. Unsure as to whether the letter was genuine she asked her neighbour to read it, too!
After jumping up and down with excitement and phoning Dennehy for verification, the wonderful news began to sink in: She had a new $1.6 million riverfront apartment at Kangaroo Point, Brisbane.
At first the ecstatic mum – ‘no names please’ - wanted to keep the news a surprise for her young daughter: “I was going to get her ready for school the next day and just keep driving past. But I told her I had a surprise and she just kept guessing. I ended up giving her the letter to read.’’
Did she ever dream of winning? “As a parent I have always had that thought in the back of my mind: ‘What if something happens to me? What will happen to her?’ So, I bought tickets as I knew it would be a way of making sure my daughter was looked after for the rest of her life.
“Now, it feels like we are just renting an apartment for the week. This really has changed everything for us. I have to work a lot and, at the moment, we only get Sundays together. This will give us more quality time together!”
Every year more than 100 supporters win homes, cars, gold bullion and holidays in the Mater Foundation lotteries. The million dollar prize homes all have waterfront views and are in sought after postcodes, such as Hope Island and Biggera Waters on the Gold Coast, and the chic inner-west suburb of Rhodes in Sydney.
The joy of winning can take a while to sink in. Just ask first prize winner No. 236 Stacy Copelin, above, a lucky cupcake baking, tennis loving Cairns local. She is the owner of Seven Stars Cupcakery and, now, a new million dollar home.
But, such was the unexpected nature of her call from Dennehy that she almost hung up on him!
Copelin, who was driving at the time, thought he was trying to sell her more tickets. Dennehy then told her she should ‘’put down what you’re doing’’ but she refused, thinking their conversation would end soon. Luckily, it didn’t!
Realising speed was of the essence, Dennehy abruptly told her she had won the competition: a new million dollar home in the tropical city! It’s no wonder Copelin pulled over straight away and had to be convinced he wasn’t joking.
The spacious home on two blocks has a pool, tennis court and large outdoor living area. Copelin says that while her win still hasn’t sunk in, she is planning a big family Christmas and will never stop supporting Mater Lotteries as a VIP.
At only 26, Aaron McCabe, above, could not believe his luck when he received the call from Bruce Dennehy notifying him that he had just won the million dollar Kawana prize home in draw 236.
The win didn’t sink in until he got home to check the ticket numbers were correct and that the prize really was his. “I was in complete shock, I couldn’t believe it at first.”
Once he got a hold of his nerves he told mum and dad - then had to spend five minutes convincing them of his good fortune.
McCabe – an electrician - said that with several building projects across the Sunshine Coast he might consider making a sea change. With Christmas approaching, he’ll spend a couple of weeks up there with family and friends, celebrating all that the coast has to offer and spending time in the pool and outdoor entertainment area enjoying lakeside views.
“Are you joking?” was all Shana Maguire could say when she was told over the phone that she had just become a million dollar Mater Prize Home winner in draw 233. The 21 year old was a VIP Club Plus member, but it was the extra tickets she bought over the phone that won her a new million dollar lifestyle and $50,000 in gold bullion.
“I wasn’t saving because I never thought I could ever afford to buy a house, she said, but her generous support has changed her life. “I just love the house,’’ she said.
“Most people don’t believe that people win these houses. All my friends and mum’s friends are going to buy tickets now because they know that real people do win.”
In the wake of the Queensland flood disaster, Rockhampton couple Alan and Michelle Ebert, above, have found dry land by winning a fully furnished $1 million house in Kingscliff - and $50,000 in gold bullion - in draw 232.
“We have always struggled for everything that we own and have been living in government housing the size of the Mater Prize Home’s lounge room,” Michelle Ebert said.
“When we signed up as VIP members we were simply hoping to raise money for research and Mater hospitals. I never thought we’d win anything like this, or even own a home, so I encourage everyone to buy a ticket for a chance to win and help those patients at the same time.”
Mater Foundation is the charitable arm of Mater Health Services and Mater Medical Research Institute. The foundation aims to promote, engage and steward philanthropic support to fund clinical care, education and research for the prevention and treatment of disease in people of all ages.
Dennehy said that, every year, the foundation arranges fundraising activities including the lottery, popular events, and direct mail appeals. Money raised helps buy medical equipment, fund research to diagnose, treat and cure life-threatening diseases, and support patients and families financially and emotionally.
He said the charity relied on community, corporate and individual support and donations to help ensure the half million babies, children and adults treated at Mater each year have access to “exceptional’’ care.
“By making a donation to Mater Foundation you can make a difference to countless lives by supporting health care projects that benefit people of all ages: from new born babies to the elderly.’’
Mater’s main prize home lottery No.250 is being drawn on December 17 with the first prize being this $1.42 million home on Bribie Island, Queensland. Tickets are $2.
Can’t you just see yourself in that pool?
