While the end of a holiday may be a gloomy time for some, a Melbourne couple who recently returned from Hamilton Island is today celebrating finding a division one winning Saturday Gold Lotto ticket at the bottom of their suitcase.
 
The couple’s unregistered entry was one of the 10 division one winning entries nationally in Saturday Gold Lotto draw 3853 on 23 June 2018. Each entry took home a division one prize of $2 million.
 
Speaking to a Golden Casket official today, the Melbourne couple explained it wasn’t just a Whitsundays tan that accompanied them back to wintery Victoria – but a winning ticket stashed in their suitcase.
 
“We were just about to leave Hamilton Island when we heard there had been a win there,” the happy woman explained.
 
“It was at that stage we started grabbing everything out of the suitcase. We were at Hamilton Island Airport and hoping like billy-o that it was us.

“I just knew it. I knew it – even when he bought the ticket. I said to my husband ‘you always do well with Lotto when we’re away, why don’t you go buy a ticket?’.
 

“Coming off the back of a wonderful holiday, this win is just the icing on the cake, I can tell you.”
 
The husband added: “I’ve had it on my bucket list to win Lotto, so we can tick that off now”.
 
So enamoured with the Whitsundays from their holiday and their win, the couple now plan to buy an apartment in the region for themselves and those on their Lotto List.
 
“We would love to buy an apartment in the Whitsundays. It could be something that our family can enjoy for years to come,” she said.
 
“We all work hard and this would be a real acknowledgement of that win. We want whatever we do with the win to stand out and mean something.”
 
The couple, who wish to remain anonymous, purchased their 50-game QuickPick entry at Trader Petes, 1 Front Street, Hamilton Island.
 
Trader Petes owner Nikki Phillips said she was also thrilled to have sold a division one winning entry.
 
“How good is it? I am thrilled to bits. I have been saying that it is our turn to sell a division one ticket!” she exclaimed.
 
“We have so many mega yachts sitting outside, so now our winner can go and get one!
 
“We wish our winner all the very best with their prize.”
 
So far this calendar year, Monday & Wednesday Gold Lotto and Saturday Gold Lotto have created 94 millionaires across Australia.
 
The six winning numbers in Saturday Gold Lotto draw 3853 Saturday 23 June 2018 were 10, 35, 9, 18, 41 and 31.  The supplementary numbers were 26 and 16.
 
Across Australia there were 10 division one winning entries in Saturday Gold Lotto draw 3853 – three each in Queensland and Western Australia, and one each in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.
 
The Lott’s division one winning tally has now reached 198 so far this calendar year, including 47 won by Golden Casket Lotteries customers.