Christmas miracle: Mater’s $4.2m prize package to support tiny patients

In the spirit of Christmas generosity, Mater Prize Home is rolling out it’s biggest prize package valued at $4.2 million which includes a waterfront home, Tesla, boat, jet skis and gold bullion.

Former netballer Laura Geitz and her husband Mark Gilbride have had all their four children at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane. Picture Instagram

Mater lottery ticket purchases fund medical research and patient care services across Mater Research, Mater Health and Mater Education. We may receive payments for sharing this content and when readers purchase lottery home tickets through links in this article. Learn more

Following Mater Prize Home rolling out its biggest prize package ever valued at $4.2 million, former Australian netball captain Laura Geitz is well-placed to speak about the positive impact tickets sales from the lottery have had on helping the most vulnerable newborns in the hospital.

The mum of four had all her children at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane and is now singing the praises of the both the medical institution and the prize package, which consists of a three-storey, five-bedroom Gold Coast waterfront home with a private pontoon, saltwater pool, and a cinema room. As if that’s not enough, the winner will also get a Tesla Model Y, a 268 Sea Fox Commander boat, two Sea Doo jet skis, and a jaw-dropping one million dollars in gold bullion.

Former netballer Laura Geitz and her husband Mark Gilbride announced the birth of their fourth child Pippa Goldie Gilbride nine months ago, who joined Barney, 6, Franky, 4, and Billie Mae, 2. Picture Instagram

“It’s not until you actually speak to those doctors and researchers that you realise the only way they can continue to bring hope and healing to so many people is through the funding that comes from a prize home. It’s just a big double positive – you could win these incredible homes for just $2, or, if not, be part of such a worthy cause, bringing hope and healing to so many people,” she said.

“We had four very healthy babies that didn’t need the support of a neonatal critical care unit, but I’ve walked through there and seen some of the stories and circumstances. There are just so many incredible stories about survival and all the research that goes into saving these lives, it’s made possible by the Mater Prize Home.”

At birth, Ollie was one of the smallest babies cared for at Mater Mothers’ Neonatal Critical Care Unit, where he spent 159 days. Pictured with his mum Erika Brown (right) and Mater Hospital staff member. Picture: Supplied

Each year Mater Mothers’ Neonatal Critical Care Unit cares for over 2000 premature and seriously ill babies, such as Ollie was one of the smallest patients born at Mater in 2022. At birth, Ollie was just 27.5 centimetres long (which is half the length of many full-term babies) and weighed a tiny 520 grams. He was one of the smallest babies cared for at Mater Mothers’

Neonatal Critical Care Unit, where he spent 159 days. He is one of just nine surviving

babies born at 24 weeks’ gestation last year.

New mum Erika Brown holding her son Ollie. He is just one of nine surviving babies born at 24 weeks’ gestation last year. Picture: Mater Hospital

Laura said for a paltry $2 someone is going to nab an extra fancy Christmas present this year as Lottery No. 310, aptly named “Everything Under the Sun”, will be drawn a couple of days prior.

“There are single ticket winners. That’s the other really cool part, a lot of people that have won have won on a single $2 ticket. You can actually just buy one ticket and stand a chance.”

The lucky winner of this $4.2M Mater Prize Home package will win a fully furnished, 3 story, 5-bedroom home waterfront home, with private pontoon, saltwater pool and cinema room. PLUS, a Tesla model Y, a 268 Sea Fox Commander boat, 2 x Sea Doo jet skis and ONE million dollars of gold bullion. Picture: Mater Hospital

What sets the Mater Prize Home apart is that it’s not just about winning a life-changing prize, said Simon Jarvis, director of Lotteries at the Mater Foundation, but the difference it makes in the lives of the tiniest patients at the Mater Mothers’ Neonatal Critical Care Unit.

“On draw day, we really feel the emotion of the winners and what it means to them to win such an extraordinary life-changing prize package.”

Ticket prices start from $2, and the draw is scheduled for December 22.

To buy tickets visit materlotteries.com.au Terms and conditions apply.

Mater lottery ticket purchases fund medical research and patient care services across Mater Research, Mater Health and Mater Education. We may receive payments for sharing this content and when readers purchase lottery home tickets through links in this article. Learn more

Originally published as Christmas miracle: Mater’s $4.2m prize package to support tiny patients