A woman in her 60s plans to buy a house with a large garden, keep chickens and donate to animal charities after winning a $20 million Powerball prize, Lotterywest said.
The winner matched all seven main numbers and the Powerball after purchasing her ticket at Newsxpress Halls Head in Peel, about 75 kilometres south of Perth. She told Lotterywest she had been out shopping when she decided at the last minute to buy the ticket, despite heavy bags in the car and nearly skipping the stop.
In a statement to Lotterywest, the winner said she had long imagined living in a house with "a big garden, loads of fruit trees, a veggie patch, and chooks." She also said she planned to buy a massage chair and give some of the winnings to charities that support animals.
"Over the years I've done lots of volunteering and fostering for dogs' refuges around Western Australia," she said. "Now with this prize I can make a real difference."
The woman described waking up in the night convinced she had dreamed the win and repeatedly checking the ticket. "My eyes were blurry from staring at the ticket so much," she said. The $20 million prize resulted from a six-week jackpot run.
Lotterywest confirmed the ticket matched the full set of numbers required to win the division one prize. The organisation has advised winners to seek independent financial and legal advice and to move carefully through the claims process.
The draw follows several large jackpots in recent months in Australia. Lotterywest said a Saturday Lotto special event will soon offer West Australians the chance to win a share in a $10 million prize.
News of the win drew attention in Peel where the ticket was purchased. The winner did not disclose whether she intended to take the prize as a lump sum or annuity. Lotterywest and the retailer have not provided further details about the timing of a public presentation or any plans for anonymity.
Lottery wins of this size frequently prompt winners to consult advisers and to plan gifts or trust arrangements. The winning ticket closed the retailer's day with a headline payout after what Lotterywest described as sustained public interest during the extended jackpot period.
The winner's announcement echoed other recent big lottery stories in Australia, where large prizes have periodically made national headlines and prompted discussions about the role of state-run lotteries in community funding and charity support.