Latest news with #MelissaSheil
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Albany retirees celebrate division one $1.2m Lotto win
A retired Albany couple who became overnight millionaires after taking home a $1.2 million Lotto prize say they plan to use the cash to splash out on new carpets and curtains. The couple, one of three WA winners of Saturday's hefty division one prize, said they were astonished to see their numbers pop up on television after they bought the ticket from Albany Lottery, News and Gifts earlier that day. 'I bought the paper to check my numbers and realised we had more than a few,' the man said. He said the good news had barely sunk in when a friend happened to ring to ask how the couple were doing that day. 'She called me and asked if I was okay, and I said well, yes, we've won the Lotto.' Alongside the practical home furnishings, the couple in their 70s plan to share some of their winnings with close family. Albany Lottery, News and Gifts sold Saturday's Division 1 $1.228 million lottery ticket on May 31. Credit: Melissa Sheil Albany Lottery, News and Gifts owner Cathy Campbell said the winning division one ticket, worth a total $1,228,899 is the second highest cash prize they have ever sold. 'We did a $2.17m one in 2011, but this is the next biggest one after that,' she said. 'It's always exciting selling a winning ticket, even if its only $1000 as people get excited about it. The York Street store sold a $2.17 million ticket in 2011. Credit: Melissa Sheil 'Everyone obviously plays to win and its really nice having some good news going around. 'We're just excited we've created a new local millionaire.' The Albany retailer was one of three WA stores that sold winning $1.2m tickets, with lucky shoppers from Nextra Express Ellenbrook and Yokine Lottery Centre and LPO also scoring big. Assistant manager Lauren Riddell said the excitement of selling a winning ticket is infectious. Credit: Melissa Sheil
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Climate
- Perth Now
‘This was crazy': WA man caught up in eye of freak tornado
A Great Southern man who was caught in the eye of a freak tornado and thrown 30m into a fence on a Frankland River farm on Tuesday said he is grateful he's 'still standing up'. Darcy Clode was putting up steel posts for fencing on the crop and sheep farm about 12.30pm when he saw the 'cockeyed bob' ripping up trees as it moved towards him. The fencing contractor sheltered inside his ute with his dog, who was asleep in the back seat, until he felt the back end of the vehicle lifting up off the ground. Mr Clode's dog was sleeping the back seat of the ute when the tornado came through. Credit: Melissa Sheil 'I thought I better get out of there and make way so as I got out of my ute it picked up and I tried to scurry away a bit but by then it had knocked me into the ground,' he said. 'I could see the tractor and thought 'oh next thing the tractor's coming down on top of me' but before you know it, I was flat on the deck and thrown into the fence and it was all over. 'I couldn't really see much since there was a lot of dirt flying around, and it was sort of natural instinct to hit the ground, cover your head, protect yourself from major injuries but there wasn't really much I could do with that much force. 'You're sort of pushed against the fence and held there.' Mr Clode was taken to hospital and treated for leg wounds. Credit: Melissa Sheil Mr Clode was taken to Albany Health Campus for treatment for a deep cut and scrapes on his leg, but it was his machinery that took the real beating. The cabin roof of his HiLux work ute caved in after it flipped over with its attached trailer, and his tractor had its windows blown out and roof torn off. Lasting about five minutes, the tornado began at the north-west corner of the farm and moved down to the south-east corner at what property owner Nathan Waterman believed to be speeds of about 250km/h. 'I think we've had these cockeyed bobs before in other areas, but, yeah, nothing like this, this was crazy,' he said. Mr Waterman said Mr Clode was completely covered in dirt and mud when he arrived. Credit: Melissa Sheil 'We just thought it was Armageddon when we got here, we couldn't believe what we were looking at. We didn't know what we were looking at, actually.' He said his property suffered some 'extensive damage' with fences and trees torn out, but his crops and livestock fortunately got out relatively unscathed. 'The sheep haven't moved from the top of the paddock, I think they're as far away from the tornado as you could possibly get,' Mr Waterman said. Mr Clode said the extreme machinery damage is tough on a small business. Credit: Melissa Sheil A Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson confirmed the event to be a tornado and said that WA has an average of five tornadoes during the cool season. Mr Clode, who was back at work on Wednesday, said he's grateful to 'still be standing' but it's 'not something you'd want to endure every day'. 'Yeah, it wasn't on my bucket list of things to go through but it's a good one for the grandkids,' he said. The strong winds flipped the ute and a trailer. Credit: Nathan Waterman The roof of the ute caved in when it was flipped. Credit: Melissa Sheil
Perth Now
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Man killed in Albany Highway collision, road remains closed
Major Crash investigators are examining the scene. Credit: Rebecca Parish / Supplied Melissa Sheil and Eliza Kavanagh PerthNow A 30-year-old man has died after his vehicle and another car collided on Albany Highway near Narrikup on Thursday morning. The man was driving a white Nissan Micra on Albany Highway near Red Hill Road at about 6.30am when he collided with a grey Holden Rodeo Utility. He died at the scene from his injuries. The 52-year-old driver of the ute was taken to Albany Health Campus with serious injuries. Police, St John WA, Albany Career Fire and Rescue Service and Mt Barker Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service attended. Major Crash investigators are examining the scene and appealing for witnesses to come forward with information or dashcam footage which can be uploaded online or reported Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. The part of the highway between Narrikup and Mt Barker remains closed with a diversion in place via Muir Highway, Denmark-Mount Barker Road and Spencer Road. Motorists are advised to avoid the area. If you or anyone you know has been affected by a road crash, contact Road Trauma Support WA on 1300 004 814. A detour is in place. Credit: Main Roads Western Australia
