Nurse wins first-home deposit from Woodlea estate developer
A neonatal nurse from Melbourne’s west has won a $14,000 boost to her first-home dream, despite sleeping through the raffle after working a 12 hour night shift at Sunshine Hospital.
A neonatal nurse who “doesn’t usually win with any raffles” has won a $14,000 boost to her first-home dream.
Christine Suarez and husband Jan Michael Suarez were one of five families given their initial deposit back by developers Victorian Investments and Properties and Mirvac as part of a raffle to celebrate the Woodlea estate’s fifth birthday last weekend.
The healthcare worker from Sunshine Hospital and her husband are currently living with her sister to save money for their first home, a house and land package at the estate in Rockbank.
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Ms Suarez slept through the announcement on Saturday morning after working the night shift on Friday night.
Typically working a 12 hour day in the neonatal ward, Ms Suarez hasn’t had contact with COVID-19 cases, but already has one of the toughest nursing jobs around.
“Most of the time it’s mothers giving birth, but then if the baby is delivered and something is wrong, that’s when they will call us and transfer the baby to our unit,” she said.
“I got home at about 8am (Saturday) and woke up at 2pm … I just wanted to sleep as much as I could.”
It wasn’t until she watched a video of the raffle draw posted to social media that she realised she had won.
“I’m not that lucky, I don’t usually win with any raffles or games,” Ms Suarez said.
She is now saving even harder, hoping that instead of a 10 per cent deposit at settlement next year they will have a 20 per cent figure — and some money left over for furniture.
Woodlea sales manager Lora Armstrong said a planned event had been swapped for a video draw for the raffle displayed live online and all those who had won their deposit back were “over the moon”.
“It is taking the pressure off at the best possible time, particularly with the majority first-home buyers,” Ms Armstrong said.
With a high number of essential workers, from teachers to nurses and warehouse staff, the estate was aiming to provide a strong community for residents as well as affordable housing.
Two-bedroom townhouses are priced from $339,000, while four-bedroom house and land packages start at $525,000.
Ms Armstrong said rising concerns over COVID-19 had reduced face-to-face contact, 50 homes were sold in the development in March and so far in April 10 buyers have signed contracts.
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Originally published as Nurse wins first-home deposit from Woodlea estate developer