Whitby Local Claims Life-Changing $17.2 Million Powerball Prize
'I love you 17.2 million times,' is what a Whitby woman says she tells her grandson daily, after a walk with him prompted her to grab her Powerball ticket – a ticket that would end up changing their lives.
The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, was walking with her grandson in the Porirua suburb of Whitby when she decided to stop at the New World to purchase her ticket for that night's draw.
'It was purely because I was out with him that I remembered to get my ticket that day – he's the reason I stopped and bought it.
'He's too young to understand, but I've told him every day since that I love him 17.2 million times,' she laughed.
The woman sat down to check her ticket on Thursday morning, and that's when she found out she had won. She didn't tell her family and went straight out to work.
'I didn't want to say anything until I had confirmed it – but I really don't know how I spent the day at work, it was all a bit of a daze to be honest.
'My son even called me to tell me someone local had won and asked me if I had checked my ticket and I just casually said 'nah, I'll check it when I get home later.''
After work, the woman went back to New World Whitby where she bought the ticket, and quietly whispered to the Lotto operator 'I think it's me… I think I'm the winner.'
The Lotto operator checked her ticket, gave her a subtle nod and took her to the office.
'It was all very discreet and professional, which was great. They congratulated me and we filled in the paperwork.
'I was shaking like a leaf, and my stomach was in knots – I could barely hold the coffee they made me!'
After claiming, the woman waited for her family to get home.
'I started casually asking them what they would do if they won Powerball… and then I said, 'well now we can do all that – because it's me – I won the $17.2 million.'
'It felt great – there was lots of cheering and tears as everyone realised what this meant for us.'
The woman spent a quiet weekend with her family coming to terms with their new reality.
'It's feels like such a weight has been lifted now – but it's going to take a lot to get my head around.
'I went out with my daughter because I needed some new boots… and I still found myself looking at the prices!
'She pointed at some that were over $500 – I couldn't justify it – that's the grocery shop for a fortnight!
'So I bought some for $99 and I call them my 17.2 million-dollar boots,' she laughed.
The woman and her family are busy making lots of plans for their future, their win is going to help them pay off mortgages, buy homes, experience overseas holidays, and most importantly, set the children and grandchildren up well into the future.
'It's life-changing, and I'm forever grateful for it, I really am.'
Notes:
This is the second largest Powerball prize won this year and comes just a month after April's $23.3 million win by a couple from the upper North Island.
The winning $17.2 million Powerball First Division ticket was sold at New World Whitby in Porirua for the draw on Wednesday 21 May.
The prize is made up of $17 million from Powerball First Division and $200,000 from Lotto First Division.
The winner would like to remain anonymous and does not wish to provide any further comment at this stage.
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