A Saturday Gold Lotto ticket bought in Weipa and sent to a loved one in Townsville as a gift has emerged as the mystery entry that won the division one prize of $1.34 million in the weekend’s draw.
On Tuesday afternoon, a Townsville woman checked the entry she received as a gift and realised she was now a millionaire.
The revelation ends a three-day search throughout Far North Queensland for the mystery ticket-holder.
The winning 8-game QuickPick was sold at Weipa News & Traders.
The Townsville woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, is also the 100th division one winner in Queensland so far this calendar year.
Speaking to a Golden Casket official this afternoon to confirm her prize, the woman explained how the winning Weipa entry ended up more than 1100km away in Townsville.
“I just checked the ticket at home and realised I was a winner,” she said.
“It was given to me as a gift from a family member who bought it in Weipa.
“I had no idea there had been a win up there, but just decided to check this ticket.”
The overjoyed woman plans to share the windfall with the family member who gave her the ticket.
“We’re going to have a great Christmas now!” she said.
Weipa News & Traders staff member Melissa Ginn said “good old Weipa gossip” had been running rampant about who the mystery winner could be.
“The win has been the talk of the town for the past few days. Anytime anyone checked their ticket, you could see their heart stop beating,” she said.
“Everyone’s being saying they’ve won it and they’re not sharing it. Anyone who’s had to fly out unexpectedly has been called the winner. It’s just been crazy!
“We’re so glad the winner has been found. It’s beautiful that it was a gift from Weipa. I’ll let the town know to stop looking now.”