Sixteen workers at Altona’s Toyota plant have won $15 million in Tuesday night’s Oz Lotto draw.
Syndicate members, aged in their early-30s to mid-50s, will each receive more than $937,000 from the division one jackpot.
About 2500 workers at the Altona plant last week voted on a redundancy package for when they lose their jobs in 2017.
One winner said his mates thought he was joking when he told them they had won.
“We always play the big Oz Lotto jackpot draws together.
“When I called everyone … they thought I was just joking around, but I said, ‘I wouldn’t be ringing you this late to play games – we’ve won Oz Lotto!’
“We’re all planning to do things like pay off the mortgage and take a holiday.”
Another winner said he wouldn’t quit his job but would use the money for his retirement and to pay off his son’s mortgage.
“I’m pretty conscientious. I’m at work right now and I’ll continue to work now that I’ve won, but down the track this prize money will be like a retirement bonus for me.
“I’ll use some of the prize money to pay off my son’s mortgage for him, too.’’
Toyota spokeswoman Beck Angel said the news was very exciting.
“That said, they are wanting to keep their identities under wrap so not much I can really say except that we are thrilled for them.”
The $30 million jackpot was shared with a couple from the Gold Coast.
Altona workers bought their winning ticket at The Pines Lotto and Confectionery in Doncaster East.
The winning numbers were 32, 12, 3, 23, 40, 2 and 19, with supplementaries 6 and 37.
