Central Coast grandmother’s million-dollar Deaf Lottery windfall

A local grandmother and dog show judge is one million dollars richer, after winning the largest ever Deaf Lottery draw.

The 64-year-old, who wants to remain anonymous, missed two calls from the lottery’s CEO before finding out about her life-changing win.

“When I heard his voicemail, I went, what?? Why would the CEO be ringing me?? I wasn’t going to ring back,” she said. “I thought it was about getting more tickets.”

But on the other end of the line, Brett Casey, the CEO of Deaf Connect’s charity fundraiser, the Deaf Lottery – was waiting to inform her that she held the million-dollar ticket in lottery 227. 

Today she was paid the full amount as cash directly in her bank account. As well as receiving thirty thousand dollars’ worth of travel vouchers. 

“It still feels like someone’s going to wake me up,” she said. “Honestly, I’ve never even won a raffle at a pub!” 

The Deaf Lottery has been operating since 1987, with the major prize most recently capped at $800,000. This is the first one-million-dollar draw held by the charity art union since its conception. 

The Central Coast local said she was thrilled to be able to choose her own prize package, and tailor it to the needs of those she loves the most.  

“One of my daughters has needed a new car for a very long time. And the other one was looking for a caravan for her family and kids.” 

“So I showed them a photo of the car rolled up in a black scroll, and a picture of a caravan in the other one. And I said to them, the thing that they need to do is go off and have new adventures!” 

Reflecting on the day she got the call, the winner said she couldn’t wait to tell her husband the good news. 

“When he walked through the door I said, ‘Can you just grab your glasses?’ and he said, ‘Oh why?’ and I said, ‘I just want to show you something.’” 

“I said, ‘Here, read that.’ And he looked at it and said, ‘What?? We’ve just won one hundred thousand dollars?’ and I said, ‘Clean your glasses and read it again,’ and he went, ‘OH MY GOD.’” 

The couple has been judging dog shows in Australia and abroad for many years – and wants to use the winnings to travel internationally to even more. 

“There’s a show that’s called The Sheep Dog Show in America. I wasn’t planning on going this year.... But who knows – maybe I will!” 

Despite her windfall, the winner said she’s committed to continuing her support of the Deaf Lottery well into the future. 

“I’ve already bought tickets in the next draw. Because it’s the donation that counts. It’s being able to help.”

“The reason why I always bought with the Deaf Lottery is because I’m really interested in Deaf people and learning Australian sign language.” 

“I knew that funds go to a great cause,” she said.  

“To people considering getting tickets in the Deaf Lottery, I’d say, ‘Definitely do it.’ Dreams do come true. It might take a while for it to become a reality. But they really do!” 

From all of us at the Deaf Lottery, it’s been an absolute pleasure to see this prize go towards what matters most – family, new adventures, and perhaps even that long-awaited Sheep Dog Show after all!