Queensland Education Department workers claim $55 million from a Powerball jackpot

In what appears to be the fourth largest Powerball jackpot in Australia’s history, members of Queensland Department of Education divide the windfall over a winning ticket bought in sharing at a Casino News in Brisbane CBD.

The prize for the Powerball jackpot has been set at a whopping $55 million, with 21 workers at the department pocketing their shares of $2.62 million each.

An official release from the lotto initially confirmed that the winning ticket was not registered. Eventually, Tatts spokesperson Elissa Lewis appealed to the winner to come forward and claim the prize.

“If you discover you’re holding one of the division one winning tickets — please keep it in a safe place and phone Tatts Group Lotteries on 131 868 to start the process of claiming your prize,” Ms Lewis said, according to The Courier Mail.

“For the mystery ticket holder who has won the entire $55 million division one prize, when they discover their life changing windfall it will a moment they will never forget," Lewis added.

A New Zealand publication, Stuff, said the winners only found out about the win when they reached office Friday morning.

The winning group’s leader, a young woman, said, “I don’t know what to say! I’m so shocked – it all seems so unreal! Wow – now I’ll be able to buy a house and get my teeth fixed – I’ll be able to afford braces!”

“We were talking in the office yesterday about what we would do if we won and now it has happened – I just can’t believe it,” the woman added.

“A lot of them are in shock,” a colleague is reported to have said.

According to the Courier Mail report, the group’s members were aged between 23 and 60. The winners wished to remain anonymous.

The current record for the Powerball jackpot’s highest draw stands at $80 million. It was won in July 2009.