A Brisbane widow has won a remarkable prize of two luxury beachfront apartments valued at over $6 million. The winner, known as Lucy, expressed that the most significant aspect of this life-changing experience is the gift of time spent with her family. At 62 years old, Lucy participated in RSL Queensland’s Dream Home Art Union draw, purchasing low-cost tickets without anticipating such a substantial win.
While at work, she received the phone call confirming her victory, initially dismissing it as a scam. “I said, well, that’s lovely, but I don’t believe you,” Lucy recounted in an interview with 7NEWS. Her skepticism soon turned to astonishment as the details were confirmed. “It took about an hour before I thought, wow, I’m going to need to tell my kids,” she added.
Lucy later gathered her two adult children for a phone call to deliver the surprising news. “I said to the kids, nothing wrong, but I need to speak to you guys together. They were equally shocked and surprised,” she mentioned.
Celebrating the Win
Typically, winners of the draw receive approximately $2,000 in travel money to visit their prize home for the key handover. However, as Lucy resides in Brisbane, she opted to celebrate the occasion with her family. They arranged a stretch limousine to take them to Noosa for the paperwork signing. “We all drove to Noosa to sign the papers. It was a bit of fun,” she recalled.
The unexpected financial security allowed Lucy to retire earlier than planned. After being widowed 15 years ago, she had carefully budgeted her finances and aimed to retire at 64. With the new prize, she could bring her retirement forward by a few years. “I went and spoke to the right people and the accountant and the financial people and set myself up,” she explained.
Despite her newfound wealth, Lucy has maintained her practical lifestyle. She had previously operated on a strict budget, color-coding expenses for groceries, healthcare, and other necessities. “When the win happened, I think it was about two months before my 60th birthday, and I had already booked a holiday to Italy,” she said, noting that she upgraded her travel plans slightly.
Time with Family as a Priority
Lucy emphasized that the prize was never about opulence. “What you want is time,” she stated. Since retiring, she has taken the opportunity to clean out cupboards, sort through photos, and reconnect with family and friends. “That’s been a very special part of this. Just having the luxury of time,” she remarked.
The win has also allowed Lucy to enjoy her role as a grandmother. “Absolutely,” she affirmed, speaking about her four grandchildren. “It’s lovely to be able to drop in and have a play.” While the financial benefits are significant, Lucy underscores that the real treasure lies in the relationships she can now nurture.
Lucy sold both Noosa apartments, cleared her mortgage, and shared her fortune with her family and friends. “I was able to give my grown-up children a lump sum. And I think about 25 people all got a little bit of cash,” she explained. The funds have been put to good use: one child renovated their house, while another paid off part of their mortgage and planned for a second child sooner than anticipated.
Having moved to a new home in Bokarina on the Sunshine Coast, Lucy has styled it with furnishings from her prize properties. “I am just more familiar with this area than Noosa,” she noted.
The Growing Appeal of Prize Homes
Despite her substantial win, Lucy continues to purchase tickets for the draw, motivated not merely by the chance of winning again, but also by the support it provides to veterans. “It’s for a good cause,” she said, highlighting that proceeds from ticket sales assist veterans and their families across Queensland.
According to RSL Queensland, last year, they helped 7,304 veterans and their families improve their health and wellbeing, secured employment for 358 veterans and partners, and aided 238 families in finding permanent accommodation. The organization’s General Manager, Ben Sawkins, noted that there is rising demand for prize homes as ownership becomes increasingly difficult for many Australians. “Traditionally it’s older Australians, but now families and millennials are getting involved, hoping to land their dream home,” he explained.
The next draw closes on December 19, with the winner to be announced just in time for Christmas on December 23. The current prize includes a five-bedroom luxury home at Burleigh Heads, $500,000 in gold, a $3,000 travel voucher, and designer furnishings.
Reflecting on her experience, Lucy believes the win has been transformative. “At the end of the day, we all want time with loved ones and good health,” she said. “I’ve started swimming again and I’ve lost some weight. The win will at least now give me good enough money to last until I’m 90. I might now just work on the health and the body to go with it,” she concluded with a laugh.
