Raffle win turns a tough week around for dedicated volunteer

IT’S been a rollercoaster of emotions over the past two weeks for the winner of a brand-new car in a raffle run by the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre in partnership with the Red Tape Shredders.

Susanne Nickalls get set to drive off in her new MG3. The car was won in a raffle run by the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre in partnership with the Red Tape Shredders. PHOTO: Supplied.

Dedicated Comfort Kitchen volunteer and Hervey Bay local Susanne Nickalls was thrilled to learn she had won the MG3 car.

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Making the win even more significant, Susanne won the car just a week after her mother passed away.

“When I heard I had won, I looked up and said ‘thanks, Mum!’,” Susanne said.

“It really has been a week of highs and lows.”

She said the win was made even better by the fact her car was written off in an accident last year. She and her husband Bill have been sharing a car since then.

“We couldn’t sleep the night we heard we had won. I saw the announcement on Facebook the next morning and said, ‘it is true!’,” Susanne said.

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HBNC CEO, Tanya Stevenson, said it was wonderful to see the car go to such a deserving person.

“We were thrilled to raise about $25,000 through this raffle, which will go towards projects aimed at giving dignity to local families experiencing homelessness, including the Sunshine Van,” Tanya said.

“Knowing the car has gone to someone like Susanne, who gives her time to help feed families in need at our weekly Comfort Kitchen community meal, makes it even better.”