The man won $800,000 on Lotto.
Camera IconThe man won $800,000 on Lotto. Credit: Supplied/RegionalHUB

Brisbane tradie quits job after winning $800,000 in Gold Lotto draw

PerthNow

A Brisbane tradie, who won $800,000 in Lotto turned up to work just so he could walk out on his boss.

The tradie, from the suburb of Chermside, scored $800,000 in Wednesday’s Gold Lotto draw after being one of five jackpot winners.

He checked his ticket after stopping off at the newsagent on his way to work when he found out about his new riches.

“I can’t believe it. I was on my way to work and stopped to check my lottery ticket and now I’ve won $800,000,” he said.

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But, while most of us would quit on the spot after receiving a huge windfall, the overwhelmed tradie said he was going into work just so he could have the satisfaction of quitting his job.

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“I’ll be going to work to do one thing and one thing only — quit,” he said.

“This is so surreal. I really can’t believe it. I’ve won a lot of small prizes over the years but nothing like this.

“I’ve always thought one day I would win the lottery and today is my day... My mind is reeling, I really can’t think.”

The man has planned a dream retirement of fishing, taking up gold and relaxing in a new house he plans to buy.

But first, he’s planning to take a long break.

“I’m in desperate need of a holiday,” he said.

“And I’ll have plenty of spare time to slow down as soon as I quit my job...I’m just going to sit back and relax.”

Shannon Hickey, who manages the Nextra Express Chermside newsagency where the man bought the ticket said she was thrilled for the winner.

“We’ve been celebrating in store by sharing the exciting news with all our customers who are so happy for our latest winner... It’s fantastic for the community and our customers,” she said.

In WA, our latest Lotto millionaire is thanking the heavens for the wild weather that changed his usual routine for buying a ticket.

The man, in his 60s, is from the southern suburb of Parmelia, but to avoid a drenching in Perth’s storm, he dashed to Wellard Square News and Gifts for a Slikpik 18.

It paid off with a $2.5 million prize. He said he would visit family in Queensland.

“I didn’t want to get wet,” the man aged in his 60s said. “I knew there was a retailer in Wellard that would be sheltered so I thought I’d go there.

“All my family is in Queensland, so this is the time to retire and to see family,” he said.