Lotto joy in Timaru as dozen staff win
‘‘This is a really special bonus for our team as they worked hard through the lockdown and made some big sacrifices for the company during that time. It’s nice for them to get something back.’’
Winning ticket buyer
A dozen people from a Timaru workplace were jumping around the office and screaming when they found out they had won $166,667 with Lotto First Division.
The organiser of the syndicate, which wishes to remain anonymous, couldn’t believe her eyes when she logged on to her MyLotto account on Wednesday night to learn they were a ‘Major Prize Winner’.
‘‘It was a completely surreal moment,’’ she said.
‘‘We have been playing as a syndicate for a while now and you never really expect to win. You always hope, but when it happened it was hard to believe.’’
The syndicate has been running for the past six years, with members putting in money each week to buy Triple Dip tickets for the Wednesday and Saturday Lotto draws, and this is their first major prize.
The woman arrived at work on Thursday morning and one of her team members said she had heard on the radio that there was a Lotto First Division winner from Timaru, but they bought their ticket in store.
‘‘I just said to her ‘the ticket wasn’t bought in store’ and smiled,’’ the syndicate organiser said.
‘‘We were jumping around the office and screaming and pretty soon after that all of the team knew that we’d won. It was really special,’’ she said.
Each member will take home
around $14,000 which will make a big difference in their lives, she said.
‘‘This is a really special bonus for our team as they worked hard through the lockdown and made some big sacrifices for the company during that time.
‘‘It’s nice for them to get something back.’’
The office has been on a high since the win, she said.
‘‘Everyone is buzzing and talking about how they will spend their money.’’
The syndicate are planning to celebrate together with a nice dinner and a few drinks.
The winning ticket was sold on MyLotto for the Lotto Draw on June 10.