The Ticket She Almost Lost
Imagine winning $100 million and almost losing the ticket before realizing your life has changed forever. That’s exactly what happened to an Aspley woman who now holds the title of Queensland’s biggest lottery winner—and the third-biggest in Australian history—after scooping up the entire Australian Powerball jackpot in on August 22, 2024.
The lucky winner, a mum from Brisbane, shared her incredible story revealing that she had a strong feeling earlier this year that she was destined to win big. “I told my parents I was going to win a major lottery prize, and they thought I was crazy,” she said. “But I just knew something was going to happen.”
That premonition led her to buy an Australian Powerball ticket on a whim while out shopping, just as her birthday was approaching. Little did she know, this impulsive purchase would change her life. The ticket, however, was almost forgotten, tucked away in her car’s glovebox until a morning run and news of a mystery winner in the area jogged her memory.
“The funny thing is, I almost lost it! I had to pull over on my way home from the shops because I thought I’d left it there,” she recounted, still in disbelief. “Now, we’re in complete shock. We’ve worked so hard all our lives, and we never imagined something like this happening to us.”
With $100 million now in her bank account, the winner admits she hasn’t made any solid plans yet, but traveling with her family is high on the list. “We’ve always wanted to visit New Zealand and Fiji,” she said. “But honestly, I can’t even say it out loud right now—it doesn’t feel real.”
The winning ticket was purchased at Nextra Chermside Newsagency, which has now become a hotspot for lottery wins. Store owner Shannon Hickey couldn’t contain his excitement, noting that this is the biggest win his store has ever seen. “We’ve sold over $164 million in division one winning tickets now, including this $100 million Powerball prize,” he said. “It’s just fantastic—we must be the luckiest store in Australia!”
The winning numbers for the draw were 16, 24, 11, 4, 10, 18, and 23, with the Powerball number 6. In addition to the division one jackpot, over 3.3 million other prizes were awarded across divisions two to nine, totaling nearly $68 million. Among them were 10 division two winners who each walked away with over $188,000.
The story has captivated lottery fans across the country. It’s estimated that one out of every two adults in Australia had a ticket in in play for this draw. This win marks only the sixth time an Australian has won a lottery prize of $100 million or more, making it a historic moment not just for the winner, but for Queensland and the entire nation.
In celebrating this incredible win, it’s a reminder that sometimes, taking a chance—even on a whim—can lead to life-changing results. And as for the lucky Brisbane mum, her story will undoubtedly inspire many more to take a shot at their own dreams of hitting the jackpot.
