Merry Christmas
The team at The Weekly Advertiser and radio stations 3WM and MIXX FM wish all our readers and listeners a happy and safe Christmas and New Year. Above, members of the team join ACE Radio Wimmera general manager Brendan O’loughlin in congratulating Catherine ‘Kat’ Campbell on her $20,000 Pay Day win.
The winner of The Weekly Advertiser and radio stations 3WM and MIXX FM’S $20,000 Pay Day competition will seek financial advice before deciding how to use her windfall.
Catherine ‘Kat’ Campbell, 34, who works with Horsham Rural City Council, said the cash prize, the result of a region-wide promotion involving Wimmera, Mallee and Grampians businesses, was unexpected but more than welcome.
“Like many other people, life has been a bit of a financial struggle, so this will make a big difference to me,” she said.
Kat’s winning entry came from Horsham business Hermans Interiors where she had shopped twice and filled in two entry forms.
She said the first time she entered she had been shopping for herself and the second time she had been buying gifts for friends.
“I’m not sure which one won. I also entered at Priceline in Horsham,” she said.
“You don’t really ever expect to win, but I thought ‘you never know’ and entered.”
Kat, originally from New Zealand, said news had travelled fast and joked that she already had five marriage proposals from workmates since winning the prize.
She revealed that she first heard about her win from a work colleague who had heard her name read out on the radio.
“She was trying to convince me that my name had been read out but I thought she was pulling my leg,” she said.
“I said no one has called me, so I called Hermans and as I was talking to them another call came through. They quickly said hang up and answer the phone, so I did and that was it – I was on the radio,” she said.
“To receive that amount of money in one lump sum… it would take me forever to save up that amount.
“It just takes a lot of financial pressure off.
“I’m so grateful. I’m still coming to grips with it.”
Regional interest
ACE Radio Wimmera general manager Brendan O’loughlin congratulated Kat on her win, adding that the promotion had generated considerable interest across the region.
“It’s great that we can have such a worthy winner and to see this will make such a difference in a person’s life,” he said.
Mr O’loughlin said the $20,000 Pay Day was a clear example of how The Weekly Advertiser and 3WM and MIXX FM worked with regional businesses and engaged the broader community.
“There is little doubt the promotion lured people into shops and helped generate business activity,” he said.
“Apart from providing one lucky person with a significant Christmas present, generating foot traffic into our partnering businesses was a primary aim of the promotion.
“We’re happy that this has been so successful – the level of entries clearly indicated that the promotion was well received by listeners and readers – and thank businesses for being such great partners.
“We were delighted that Member for Lowan Emma Kealy accepted our offer to draw the prize.
“She was just as excited as the winner.”
Mr O’loughlin said a fundamental message driving the promotion was for people to shop locally.
He also suggested that shoppers should keep an eye and ear out for major promotions next year.