A Sunshine Coast man who suffered 50 fractures when he lost control of his motorbike and hit a guard rail 10 years ago is the new owner of a $2.7 million prize home.
Matt Phillips was on life support for four weeks after the accident but his luck and life have changed after he won Endeavour Lotteries’ latest draw.
He and his partner of 35 years, Helen Heaton, have won a fully furnished house in Palmview with four bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, two-car lock-up garage, resort-style pool, fire pit, indoor-outdoor living spaces and a large shed on 3305sqm.
“Since the accident I’ve slowed down a lot,” Mr Phillips said.
“I like to buy tickets in prize home lotteries because it helps people with disability to achieve their dreams, and you have to be in it to win it.
“I didn’t even tell Helen I bought 10 tickets in this lottery, and the first she knew of it was when Endeavour called us to say we’d won.
“There are so many things in this home that we haven’t had before and after everything we’ve been through, we simply can’t believe it’s all ours — there’s plenty of room for Frank our sausage dog too.”
The duo said it took them until they saw Mr Phillips’ initials on the Endeavour Lotteries website for the win to properly sink in.
“We now know Endeavour tried to call us to tell us the news several times, but we ignored the number thinking it was a scammer. Thank goodness we finally answered it!” he said.
“When I answered the call I heard the cheers on the other end, and they seemed to know who I was, but when you get a call like that it’s almost like you go numb.
“It’s the most incredible and weird feeling at the same time, and we’re just so grateful to have won.”
The couple — who met while working in the airline industry as flight attendants, before moving to the Coast to slow things down – currently live only 20 minutes away in Wurtulla. While they love their current home, with ongoing maintenance required and bike injuries preventing the upkeep, it’s a welcome change.
“Matt and I are into our mid-60s now, and the work that needs to be done is just too much for us,” Ms Heaton said.
“We’ll have money now to pay someone to help us do it up while we stay in the Palmview property, and because it’s fully furnished all we’ll need to take is our toothbrushes; this win is really going to change our lives.”
The disability charity-based lottery says winners have the choice to move in, rent the property or sell it, giving them options to live their best life.
“It’s a win-win for both the winner and people with intellectual disability,” Endeavour Lotteries general manager Dominic Taylor said.
“For just $10 a ticket, funds raised help people with intellectual disability find meaningful employment opportunities, access to community activities and events, learn life skills, and the chance to live comfortably in custom-built homes that meet individual needs.
“We’re also proud each prize home feeds work back into local trades; it’s a real privilege to know we’re able to help the community who so generously helps us and the people we support.
“We love hearing the excitement in the voices of our winners, knowing we’ve changed their lives.”
Endeavour Lotteries draw 464 is now open, with the prize a home at 65 Mill Road, Buderim, while draw 465 is a home at 149 Tallowwood Street, Maleny.
