Special numbers up Innisfail couple’s shock at winning division one Lotto

AN Innisfail couple will take some time to ponder how best to spend nearly $1 million after winning division one in Saturday night’s Gold Lotto draw.

As well as collecting $960,296.23 for division one, the pair’s winning entry also scored division three 18 times and division four 45 times, bringing their total win to $985,048.93.

The win adds to the Far North’s hot streak in lotteries and is the second divisionone success for Innisfail this year. The biggest windfall in the region in recent years was claimed by a young Cairns mum who won a whopping $40 million in 2017.

The Far North’s latest winners had the life-changing news confirmed on Monday morning when contacted by a Golden Casket official.

“We knew we had the six winning numbers but I just couldn’t believe that we’d won division one,” the man said. “We were really hoping that would be the case, so this is just wonderful.

“We use the same special numbers every single week and on Saturday they certainly delivered.”

The husband and wife will now take some time to get over the initial shock of their win.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do now, which is a great problem to have,” the surprised man said.

“We’re just going to have to let the news sink in and then really have a good think about it.”

The winning ticket was bought at Larsen’s News & Casket Agency in Innisfail.

Manager Sirena Bandiera said it was the second division-one winning entry the outlet had sold in five months.

“(The couple) were first contacted by Golden Casket following a sleepless night on Saturday after not knowing whether it was real or not,” she said.

“They plan on taking a few trips around now – they were very excited to get confirmation of their win.

“This is the sixth major win now from this store so it’s good for the town and it shows that we’re a lucky store.” Far North newsagents are now expecting a busy week ahead of Thursday’s historic $150 million Powerball jackpot.