For the second time in a year, a lotto syndicate from the West Australian mining town of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has struck gold.
Thursday's $160 million Powerball jackpot had three division one winners, including a group of 20 miners based in the Goldfields.
The group will take home $53 million, with each to pocket about $2.6 million,
Winning tickets were also sold in Victoria and New South Wales, with a Penrith man coming forward on Friday morning to claim his $53 million prize.
The WA win marks the second time a Kalgoorlie betting syndicate has collected a division-one jackpot this year after 250 people from the town won in February.
'It's impossible. I don't believe you'
The winning syndicate was made up of 20 night-shift workers all employed by a WA mining contractor.
The group's manager, Chris Wood, was not part of the winning group and said he was shocked when he heard the news.
"They called me up last night to tell me they won the lotto and I did not believe them," he said.
Mr Wood said he told them, "It's impossible, I don't believe you, you are joking", before they convinced him it was no prank.
He said the workers were some of his best and he hoped they would stick with the job despite their new riches.
"They're great workers," he said. "It is my best shift. They are all from here."
"I'm ecstatic. I'm very happy for each of them. I expect I might lose them though.
"I told them I will run after them and steal their ticket if they don't come back."
Good for the Goldfields
Just eight months ago, a 250-strong group called "Goldfields, let's pay our mortgages" came away with $63 million after splitting the major prize with one other winner.
One of those winners, Kylie Owen, said she remembers well when her syndicate realised what had happened.
"Winning felt amazing, just electric," she said.
"It changed the entire town, and it is great, it put a buzz through the town."
The local business owner said while it was great to share in the million dollars, she wanted to life to go on as usual as part of the community.
"I did not change what I am doing, I still go to work every day," she said.
