tHE $10,000 PRIZE
It was a game of chance, and Victorians played hard. Five lucky recyclers – and one wildlife shelter – have each been rewarded with a $10,000 prize.
Our Win A Million… Cents competition, which ran from 5 May to 15 June, encouraged people across the state to return their eligible drink containers, with one entry for each 50 returned. Entries numbered in the tens of thousands, with many taking part in the scheme for the first time.
Winners returned their containers in the Geelong, Gippsland, and Wodonga regions, as well as the outer Melbourne areas of Bayswater and Macleod.
fIRST-TIME RECYCLER STRIKES GOLD
Geelong resident Lucinda won with her first-ever return, having been collecting for her in-laws while they were on holiday. “When I was looking online for a place to drop them off, I saw it was the last day to enter the competition,” she said. Lucinda dropped her containers off at the Norlane Reverse Vending Machine and ended up winning $10,000!
Also getting involved for the first time was Glen Waverly dad Wayne. Having started, he says he’s going to continue.
“Returning your empties is straightforward, you just have to work out which refund point works for you,”
“I’m already driving past the machine at Bayswater Mitre 10 twice a day on my commute, so it’s easy to keep collecting and returning once I have enough.”
South Dudley local Kim takes a bag with her on her daily walks and collects any eligible containers she spots along the way – some days up to 30 cans! “You collect more money than you think just by taking a bag with you on walks and you’re cleaning up the neighbourhood,” she said.
a FAMILY EFFORT WITH A BIG HEART
Recycling is a family activity for Bundoora grandmother Joanne and Wodonga daughter Reana. Joanne returned containers at the Wodonga CDS Vic Depot while visiting, and not only won $10,000 but also the bonus charity prize. The animal-loving family got to nominate a registered CDS Vic charity or community group to receive an additional $10,000 prize, and selected Our Haven Wildlife Shelter in Stradbroke (Gippsland region) as the most deserving.
Our Haven Wildlife Shelter is a not-for-profit that relies on donations to run. It is run by Theresa and Tony Matthews who care for injured and orphaned wildlife and domestic animals. Our Haven Wildlife Shelter is one of thousands of charities, schools and sporting clubs across the state that have collectively raised more than $21.2 million through the scheme so far.
a word from the ceo
Jim Round, CEO of scheme coordinator VicReturn, said the competition was a way to thank Victorians for participating in the recycling scheme and to encourage those like Wayne who were yet to get involved.
“When we launched the ‘Win A Million! Cents’ competition, we weren’t sure what the response would be, but we’ve been blown away by the enthusiasm from all corners of the state,” Mr Round said. “Seeing winners come from across Victoria reflects just how widespread scheme participation has become — and we’re so proud to celebrate that.”
“Of course, there’s still more work to do to reach our target of diverting 80% of all material from landfill by 2030,” Mr Round said. “I encourage every Victorian to recycle their drink containers through the scheme and help keep litter off our streets, parks and waterways.”
