By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
MORE than $650,000 has been shared by 11 syndicate members at Tattslotto outlets in Dandenong and Springvale.
Dande Lotto owner Verica Beliga said the head of the syndicate thought his leg was being pulled when he was told that he was a joint division-one winner in the 30 January Tattslotto draw.
The man – a local business owner – had routinely submitted the same five lines of System 10 numbers every Saturday at the Thomas Street outlet for the past 20 years, Ms Beliga said.
“He told me he’s going to put in the same numbers this Saturday,” Ms Beliga said.
Three of the syndicate shares were also bought at Springvale Authorised Newsagency and Lotto.
Over those 20 years, a few people had dropped out of the syndicate – and now were no doubt kicking themselves, she said.
The winners are each $62,798 richer and relieved of a few financial burdens.
One of them was a new father who had recently taken on additional borrowing to secure a home loan. That loan can now be paid outright.
One other family was struggling to manage after a bread-winner recently had her work hours cut.
Ms Beliga had the pleasant task of correcting a syndicate member who thought he’d won just a division-two share of about $13,000.
“I told him ‘well I’ll keep the other 50’ (thousand dollars),” Ms Beliga said.
She now basks in the reflected good fortune – the agency’s first division-one win since she took over three years ago.
“Now that we’ve had a win, I feel that yes it can happen,” Ms Beliga said.
In a way, she feels she struck it lucky when she bought the business after months of struggling to find work.
“It’s been the best thing for me. I’m my own boss – I can play the radio whenever I want and nothing can stop me.”
