A group of 15 workmates from Perth have won a $30million Powerball prize.
The group, made up of both women and men aged between their 30s and 60s, will each receive an equal share of $2 million.
The syndicate leader, who started the group over seven years ago, said that they initially forgot to buy their usual Saturday Lotto ticket and ended up purchasing a Powerball ticket instead.
‘We all put money into a kitty and I buy a Saturday Lotto ticket every week, plus one for any jackpots of $50 million or more,’ he said.
‘I couldn’t believe it when I realised I forgot to buy our ticket for Saturday Lotto. I was thinking of the grief I was going to get on Monday at work.’
‘I saw that Powerball was at $30 million and bought a ticket for that instead on a whim.’
The ticket holder plans to retire early and enjoy caravanning around Australia with his wife.
Other winners plan to retire early, help their children, visit family overseas and book the holidays they have been dreaming of.
One winner joked that as soon as she heard the news she bought a pineapple – to her, the ultimate treat.
‘We should never have had a ticket for this draw. I’ve never expected to win but play happily knowing that some of the money goes to helping the community,’ the ticketholder said.
Lotterywest spokesperson Zoe Wender said the three-week Powerball jackpot run raised $5.9 million for Lotterywest’s grants program, which supports community groups throughout WA.
‘It was incredible welcoming this group of 15 winners into the Lotterywest Winners Room and seeing how ecstatic they were,’ she said.
‘This is a life-changing win for this group of workmates, and how fantastic that they are sharing the joy of winning together.’
