Mining workers win $53 million jackpot after “spur of the moment” purchase
<p dir="ltr">It’s said lightning doesn’t strike twice but apparently the lottery does, after a group of miners from Kalgoorlie-Boulder won a share of the $160 million ($NZD 176 millioin) Powerball jackpot - the second time a winning ticket has come from the West Australian mining town.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The group of 20 workers had formed a lottery syndicate, chipping in $100 ($NZD 110) each and walking away with a slice of $53 million ($NZD 58 million) in division one winnings on Thursday.</p>
<p dir="ltr">With each worker pocketing about $2.65 million ($NZD 2.92 million), the win has come as a shock to them and their boss, who quipped that he would “run after them” and steal their ticket if they didn’t come back to work.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Peter, one of the lucky winners, told <em><a href="https://www.6pr.com.au/exclusive-record-powerball-winner-says-goldfield-syndicate-had-never-played-lotto-before/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">6PR Radio</a></em> that the win was “still sinking in”.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“I only thought we’d won the second division,” he said.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“This was a one-off because it was a big draw … it was a spur of the moment thing.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“I couldn’t believe it, I checked the ticket about 10 times.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">He went on to tell <em>9News </em>that it had been “life changing” for all of them and that nobody believed he had won since he’s “a bit of a joker”.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Chris Wood, the miners’ boss, said he was still in disbelief at the news too.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“They’re great workers; it is my best shift,” Mr Wood told the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-28/second-goldfields-powerball-winner/101591758" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“I’m ecstatic. I’m very happy for each of them. I expect I might lose them, though.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">Despite his concerns, one of the miners has already confirmed she would be sticking around after the win.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“‘You know how they say, one Powerball and I’m out of here? Well, it ain’t true,” she said in a video shared on Facebook.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“I’ve known since the start of my shift and I’m still loading trucks.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">“So yeah, there’s 18 at my work who are now millionaires.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">The group, colloquially referring to themselves as the “We Outta Here” Syndicate, pinned their winning tickets on the workplace pinboard, having purchased the winning ticket from a newsagency in Boulder, 600km east of Perth.</p>
<p dir="ltr">They aren’t the first to rake in a massive lotto win in the town either, after 250 Kalgoorlie residents pooled their tickets to claim the $63 million ($NZD 69 million) jackpot in February.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As for the remainder of the $160 million Powerball jackpot, it was split between two winners - a NSW dad and a man from Clyde, Victoria, who cried “tears of joy” upon hearing the news.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Oh my god, oh my god. I can’t believe this!” he cried.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Holy s**t! Far out! I’m absolutely speechless.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“I never thought I’d get this phone call. This has changed my life!”</p>
<p dir="ltr">The winning numbers for Thursday’s Powerball draw were 10, 4, 12, 18, 2, 34, and 7, with 7 being the Powerball number.</p>
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<p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty Images / 7News</em></p>
