Meet our Lottery 185 Winner!

Health Worker Jacob is $870,000 richer today after winning 1st Prize in The Deaf Lottery!

Ticket Number: 1447114 | Location: Wagga Wagga 2650 | Amount: $870,000

COVID-19 has changed the way we all do things, and The Deaf Lottery was no exception today when Deaf Lottery Marketing Manager Ian Harvey Ross made the call to our deserving Lottery 185 1st Prize Winner not from our call centre, but from his home office.

“Normally I’d be on a call surrounded by other staff,” Ian explained, “and we’d all get to break out in applause once we got the winner on the line. It was a different experience for sure, but still an amazing moment when Jacob* found out he’d won!”

As is often the case with our winners, Jacob was initially speechless when he heard the news he’d not only won an $850,000 windfall, but also a bonus $20,000 in Gold Bullion just from buying a $50 book of tickets!

“This is incredible,” he said. “I’m absolutely blown away.”

It was very fitting that this prize went to Jacob, a Health Worker based in Wagga Wagga, NSW. 

“It’s certainly been a busy time for me,” he told us, “but I’ve been able to work from home to make sure I can keep working.”

With the rest of his family based in Sydney, Jacob told us that this news certainly made his isolation much easier!

“The first person I’ll call is my mum,” he said. “She won’t believe it either.”

Jacob’s mother is in fact his connection to the Deaf community, having worked for a time as a carer at the Royal Institute of Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC).

Jacob decided to begin support of The Deaf Lottery in April 2020, after a friend shared a service story on Facebook.

“I thought I might as well put some money towards a good cause,” said Jacob. “I remember being impressed by all the prize options, but I never had any expectation of winning one!”

Jacob told us he’ll keep the news to just his immediate family for now, but already has a good idea of how he’ll spend his windfall.

“I’ve been looking to get into the housing market,” he said, “and this is certainly a great way to do it! This is just so fantastic.”

From everyone at Deaf Services and The Deaf Lottery, we would like to wish Jacob and his family all the very best, and thank them for supporting Deaf Australians. 

*Name changed to protect winner’s identity.