Mate 'watches' over Lotto pals
Ten mates have shared in a division one Lotto win weeks after they formed a syndicate in honour of their friend who lost his battle with cancer.
The group from Barragup had been playing Lotto for only eight weeks when they were among eight winners from around Australia to share in the $4 million top prize.
The men - Eric, Mark, Jamie, Todd, Barry, John, Vern, Tony, Craig and Scott - received $750,000, which they shared. They also gave some money to the widow of their friend Lance, who died the week they started playing. "We reckon he's up there watching us," Eric said.
The men have been part of a Thursday night club for the past 20 years, meeting in Lance's home shed to chat about life in their "man cave".
"Lance was always a mongrel for ringing us up about 3.30 every Thursday to say that the bar was open, but we'd all still be at work. So we'd always call in after we'd finished," Eric said.
Lotto players get the chance to become instant millionaires tonight when the $40 million Powerball jackpot is drawn as well as in Saturday's $21 million Lotto Superdraw.
