WA grandmother returns to first date spot after Lotto win

More than 30 years after a Mid West woman went to a Chinese restaurant on a first date with her now-husband, her entire family will return to celebrate her newfound Lotto jackpot.

The grandmother, who hails from Geraldton, nabbed the $50,000 windfall after scratching a Word Play game.

Her husband bought the winning $3 ticket at Sunset News and Lotto — a place he visits daily.

“He will go down to the newsagents to get the newspaper and the scratchies, and I’ll put a coffee on,” she said.

The morning ritual gives the couple the perfect chance to unleash their competitive spirit with one another — with the lucky win officially securing the grandmother eternal bragging rights over her spouse.

“We are a bit competitive with each other as we will have a little win every now and then,” the winner said.

“I really won this time!”

The Mid West woman revealed she already knows exactly how she’ll celebrate the exciting windfall — by taking her entire family to the same restaurant where her and her husband shared their first date more than 30 years ago.

“We have a big family of children and grandchildren so we will invite them all out for a banquet at our favourite Chinese restaurant,” the grandmother shared.

Her grandchildren will receive far more than just a plate of sweet and sour chicken, however.

“We’ll also share the prize with our grandchildren.”

The grandmother joins the 36 other West Aussies who have won big while playing Lotto in 2026, including a great-grandmother who scored $100,000 from a Scratch’n’Win last month.