Queanbeyan woman wins $60 million Powerball with ticket swap

A woman from Queanbeyan, New South Wales, has become Australia’s newest multi-millionaire after winning a $60 million Powerball jackpot on Thursday night. Her victory was secured by a last-minute decision to change a single number on her ticket.

The winner held the only division one winning ticket for Powerball draw 1567, matching all seven main numbers—26, 30, 10, 34, 16, 5, and 12—plus the Powerball number 11. Her entry, a PowerHit ticket, also won division 19 times, boosting her total prize to $60,638,678.35. Officials from The Lott contacted her shortly after the draw as she was watching the women’s State of Origin.

Upon learning of her win, the woman exclaimed her disbelief. She revealed that her success hinged on a spontaneous change. She had used a quick-pick selection but decided to alter one number, swapping out 33 for 5 because she felt she had too many numbers in the 30s. Describing herself as an everyday worker, she said she had been paying off a mortgage and managing cost-of-living pressures. She plans to continue working, though likely not full-time, and intends to share her fortune with her family to ensure their long-term comfort.