Couple downsize to caravan then win Mater Prize Home!

Within months of selling their family home and moving into a second hand caravan, retired Elliott Heads couple found the news they’d won $1.7 million Mater Prize Home lottery No.251 truly overwhelming!

When the couple sold their home in January this year, they downsized to a caravan so that they could travel Australia while deciding on a location to permanently call home.

That decision was made for them when the couple received a life changing phone call telling them of their windfall which included a beachfront Burleigh Heads apartment, Volkswagen Touareg, Sea-Doo Jet Ski package, and travel voucher.

When Lotteries Executive Director, Bruce Dennehy phoned the couple with the good news, they were in sheer disbelief.

“I can’t believe we have won a home!” exclaimed the wife.

“I am with my husband, he hasn’t even looked at me, he won’t believe it until we have the keys!” she said.

When the news was still sinking in the husband said “at first we thought we’d won a prize, not THE prize”.

After living in a town where you “don’t see traffic lights for miles”, the couple were feeling both overjoyed and overwhelmed as they received the keys to their amazing apartment located in beachside Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast.

It was only Christmas last year that the winner recalled talking to her sister about the Mater Prize home lottery, saying she was “going to win one of these one day”.

That dream came true as did their plans to live close to the water.

The couple had retired earlier in their lives than expected due to family illness and know too well the importance of ensuring hospitals receive much needed funding.

They initially joined the Mater Prize Home lottery VIP Club as a way to regularly donate back to the sick babies cared for at Mater hospitals, a program they plan to continue supporting.

When asked what their favourite part of their new home was, the answer was easy – they loved the whole thing! The couple were thrilled that their new home had a colourful spare room equipped with bunk beds for when their six grandkids come to visit.

The couple plan to continue spending their days surfing, swimming, and doing volunteer work which is why their new luxury apartment will be the perfect place to call home.

Purchase tickets in the latest Mater Prize Home lottery and you could be our next winner! The latest lottery gives you the chance to win a prize home at Birtinya, Sunshine Coast AND Parkville, Melbourne!

Your support the Mater Prize Home lottery also helps the many little miracles cared for at Mater every day. Purchase your online lottery tickets  today!