‘I couldn’t stop shaking’: Mater Prize Home winner reveals call of a lifetime

Keen golfer Aaron Stewart was playing a round with mates when he received the call of a lifetime.

Mater Prize Home winner Aaron (inset) and the Hope Island house up for grabs in the latest draw

*This article is published in partnership with Mater Prize Homes. Lottery ticket purchases fund medical research and patient care services. We may receive payments for sharing this content and when readers purchase lottery home tickets through links in this article.

KEEN golfer Aaron Stewart was playing a round with mates when he received the call of a lifetime — he was the lucky winner of a Queensland island prize home package worth $2.5 million.

The 42-year-old surveyor turned a $2 investment into an incredible asset comprising a fully furnished designer home on Bribie Island, along with two luxury cars, a golf cart and clubs, a jet ski and $500,000 in cashable gold bullion.

Now, it could be your turn, with Mater Prize Home’s latest draw No. 306 offering another dream upgrade for golfing and boating enthusiasts on the Gold Coast, with a $2.6m prize package dubbed “coastal bliss”.

Mater Prize Home winner Aaron Stewart at his new dream house back onto a golf course at Bribie Island

Simon Jarvis from the Mater Prize Home team hands Aaron Stewart the keys to his new home at Bribie Island

The winner can live mortgage free in a five-bedroom waterfront home at 41 North St, Hope Island, close to three golf courses and with access to the Broadwater.

Mr Stewart, a father-of-one from Stockton in NSW, said the fact the four-bedroom, three-bathroom house he won backed onto the Pacific Harbour Golf and Country Club was an added bonus.

“I have been buying Mater Prize Home tickets for a good few years,” he said.

“This was the one I said I was going to win. It’s got the golf buggy and everything.”

He had briefly entertained the thought of winning, then headed out to play before receiving that life-changing call.

“Come about 12 o’clock I went, oh well, I didn’t win me that house on the golf course.”

“And so I went and played golf. And then I got a phone call ... by the end of it, the hairs on the back of my neck started to stand up and I’m thinking, ‘she’s not going to tell me I’ve won this thing is she?’ and fair enough, she just said you’ve won first prize!

“I couldn’t stop shaking. I couldn’t finish golf. Yeah, we went straight to the pub.”

The $2.6 million Gold Coast home package is Mater Prize Home’s latest prize draw.

You can live the holiday dream all year round — or rent it out to bring in an income

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Mr Stewart said he would use the property as a holiday home to share with family and friends, who had already spent time there since he took the keys in February.

Hope Island has experienced rapid growth in recent times, with house prices up 62 per cent over three years to a median of $1.35m, PropTrack data shows.

The prize home features a barbecue alfresco area, pool and outdoor lounge, while inside is a sleek white kitchen and breezy open-plan dining and lounge area.

Pendant lights and wooden floors add to the relaxed vibe of the home.

Upstairs is another living area and four bedrooms including the main, which has a huge ensuite, walk-in wardrobe and balcony.

The house comes fully furnished, while the winner also takes home a Sea Fox 248 Commander boat, Sea-Doo, and $8000 in cashable gold bullion.

The luxury home comes fully furnished

Al fresco entertaining in style.

Mater Foundation CEO Andrew Thomas said every one of the charity’s prize draws had a profound impact not only on the winner, but also on the patients who benefited from funds raised.

“It’s incredible to witness how Mater Prize Home winners’ lives can change in an instant,” Mr Thomas said.

“Not only have their lives changed forever, they’re helping to change the lives of our wider community with funds going towards vital medical research, exceptional patient care and education, ensuring improvements in health treatments, care and outcomes for all.”

“We thank Aaron and all of our valued Mater Prize Home supporters. You’re truly changing lives with every ticket.”

Lottery No. 306 will be drawn on April 26.

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

Originally published as ‘I couldn’t stop shaking’: Mater Prize Home winner reveals call of a lifetime