Young couple, pensioner Lotto winners

Press, 4 August 1987, Page 8

Young couple, pensioner Lotto winners

PA Wellington A pensioner and a couple with two young children are two of the Auckland winners who shared the big prize in the first Lotto draw on Saturday evening. Each claimed almost $90,000 and are now planning what to do with the money. The pensioner wants to do up his house and give some to his favourite charities.

The young couple plan to buy a new washing machine, pay off the

mortgage and discuss with their solicitor what to do with the rest.

They had played Lotto previously in Australia and had won only $4O. The pensioner, aged 68, won $89,952 with the first ticket he bought on the first day Lotto games

were sold, said the book shopkeeper who sold him the ticket, Mr Paul Titchner, yesterday. The winning six-digit number was, of course, the first one he wrote down.

“I’m still pinching myself to make sure it’s real," the man said. “This is one of the best Monday mornings I’ve ever had." The man, who wished to remain anonymous, said he would give some of the money to charities. With the rest, he said he’d like to take a trip on the Q.E. 11. The man said he had no family, save for a woman friend.

“I have to give her a call, she’s in Australia." “I was very calm when I first heard I had won,” he said. “I don’t know why, but I played it cool.”