Couple hit prize home jackpot after 35 years
THE GOLD Coast’s newest property moguls are thrilled with the future they can provide their grandchildren after winning an entire apartment block worth $4.1 million.
Retirees Ray and Jenny Sanders bought a $50 ticket in the RSL Art Union’s biggest prize home draw – to win five apartments in Palm Beach – during their annual holiday to Burleigh Heads.
“We’ve been coming up here for the winter for many years and we’d have a look at homes, but think we’re just dreaming,” said Mr Sanders, who calls Bendigo, Victoria, home.
“Usually we would book in February to come and holiday here, but this year we won’t have to.”
The couple have bought entries in the RSL’s draws across Queensland for the past 35 years.
“Jenny and I are still going through the emotions, we’d never looked like winning anything, and here we are,” said Mr Sanders.
“Down the track, what a great future it’s going to be for our daughters, sonin-laws and eight grandchildren.”
The Sanders received the life-changing call while “shopping for easy chairs” on December 22 but held off until Christmas Day to share news of their windfall.
“They (their family) just went ape, it was the greatest Christmas dinner,” said Mr Sanders.
Most of the Sanders family flew in to the Gold Coast yesterday to inspect the prize.
The newly-built complex at Bluebird’s Rest features a two-storey penthouse with ocean views, four two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments, a pool, 10-car garage, barbecue area and $304,000 worth of furniture.
The Sanders also won $80,000 of gold bullion.
Renting the five-apartment prize would earn the couple $200,000 plus per year, the RSL’s highestever estimated total rental income for a prize home.
“We’ll probably be living in the penthouse for a good six months of the year to start with and then the family can come and go whenever it suits them,” Mr Sanders said.
“With the four other apartments, our financial adviser will assist us with them, we might sell a couple, we might keep the four, we don’t know yet.”