Lottery 213: A Win For the Whole Family

Vivian Teder-Haines started her day like many of us, with a phone call to a loved one. Her daughter was on the other end of the line. 

“I try to support [my daughter] as much as I can. She’s put herself through university and has left home to study. She’s so dedicated, and all I want to do is see her succeed.”

Vivian also mentioned how proud she is of her son, who recently bought his own property.

But this particular morning was very different. While she was on that call, Vivian missed a number of calls from the Deaf Lottery - and had no idea that she had just become $800,000 richer.

"When I first picked up, I thought – If they are selling tickets, I don’t think I have enough to cover one! Then he said, ‘I've got some good news,’ and I thought, oh okay – maybe I've won a minor prize. It didn’t even occur to me that I could have won the big one.

Once the good news sunk in, she kept thinking about the different ways she could use the winnings to give back to her family.

"The first thing I did was call my daughter again," she said, "and I told her, 'Well, you can get that new car we were just talking about!'

Looking at the Deaf Lottery prize options available, Vivian decided to design her own package and use the winnings to better suit the unique needs of her own lifestyle and loved ones. She planned to buy cars for each of her two children, fund a much-needed European holiday with her sister, and tuck the rest safely away into a retirement fund for peace of mind in her final years of employment.



Vivian's connection to the Deaf community stemmed from witnessing the beautiful journey of her friend’s daughter, Casey*. After her mother faced several health complications during the pregnancy, Casey was born prematurely and was hard-of-hearing.

Vivian recalled with pride how, after receiving Auslan access as a child, Casey’s self-confidence grew at an astronomical rate. Now, Casey is an Auslan teacher, dedicating her career to sharing the language and culture of the Deaf community. “Her journey has been so incredible. I would love to see Auslan being taught across all schools in Australia,” she said. “I knew it was going to a good cause. Even if it didn’t come back to me, it would still be worth it."

As Vivian plans a trip abroad to celebrate her win, she carries with her a renewed sense of purpose. "I said to my sister, we're going to do one big trip, we'll go around the Greek islands," she shared excitedly. "I’d rather go now while we’ve got our health than wait a few years."

"This trip is a dream come true for us. We want to take in every moment, explore new places, and create memories together. It's the little things in life, like enjoying a sunset or sharing a meal, that seemed so far away. Family is very important to me, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate it.”

Vivian encourages anyone considering buying tickets to do so with an open heart, knowing their support is making a difference. "To anyone buying tickets in the Deaf Lottery: go ahead and do it because you're helping a great cause," she said.

From the whole team at the Deaf Lottery, we wish Vivian all the best with her newfound winnings. We also extend our gratitude to the dedicated Deaf Lottery supporters who ensure that we can continue to empower the Deaf community. 

 *Casey's name changed to protect anonymity