Fed: $30 million Powerball win on NSW far north coast

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-2003
Fed: $30 million Powerball win on NSW far north coast

By Adam Joyce

SYDNEY, Dec 12 AAP - A punter from the NSW far north coast is $30 million richer after
winning the entire first division in last night's Powerball - the equal-biggest lottery
win in Australia.

But NSW Lotteries said the ticket holder from the coastal town of Yamba, who won the
major prize with a $12.70 computer-generated ticket, wanted to remain anonymous.

Last night's win follows the first - and controversial - $30 million Powerball win
by a Perth couple in January 2001.

That win caused debate about the anonymity of lotteries' winners after the couple was
named in a newspaper, virtually forcing them to speak publicly about their new-found wealth.

NSW Lotteries declined to release any details of the new winner because of the risk
of identification. Yamba has a population of just 6,000.

Last night's winning entry, from a 24-game Mega Powerpick ticket, was sold at Yamba
Fair Newsagency.

Owner Karen Thompson said staff were ecstatic about their small part in the win as
one of them had "pressed the button" on the newsagency's machine which had generated the
ticket for the $30 million windfall.

"Some (staff) have been there a long time - they more than likely know the person (who
won)," Mrs Thompson said.

"It will be a process of elimination by who starts driving into the shopping centre
with a Ferrari.

"I hope they enjoy it (the $30 million) and share it around as much as possible with
friends and family."

The winning punter was told last night about his or her scoop and will receive a cheque
in two weeks.

The first-division Powerball prize has reached $30 million three times.

But in the other case, in September last year, the win was split between two Victorian punters.

In the Perth win of 2001, the $30 million couple had kept their win secret from even
their closest relatives, but went public after a newspaper published pictures of their
house and the name of their young son.

They said they had concerns, following the publicity, about the well-being of their
son "so we felt it better to manage the situation or take control of the situation".

AAP aj/sd/cbs

KEYWORD: POWERBALL

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