Pensioner strikes gold with $ 800,000 win

A SOUTH Townsville pensioner is $ 800,000 richer after a Saturday Gold Lotto win.

The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, was one of five division one winners nationally and one of two in Queensland when her numbers were drawn on April 29.

Each of the division one winners won $ 792,331.85.

“It’s excellent. It’s just changed my life, as it would anyone with that amount of money if you haven’t been particularly rich before,” she told Golden Casket officials.

“I’ve been using those same numbers for at least 30- odd years — religiously I’ve put them on every week. I think they were initially house numbers and birth dates, but I’ve lost track over time why they were significant.”

The officials said the woman was yet to decide what to do with the money.

“I might replace my car as it’s getting on a bit, but the rest I have to have a good think about. But I don’t think I’ll go overboard,” she said.

“I’m a pensioner so I think that amount will see me out.”

The woman bought the ticket from Newsbreak on Sturt St.

Newsbreak owner Suzanne Ferguson said the outlet had been celebrating selling the winning entry.

She said it was their first division one winner since taking over the outlet in November.