A pair of Albany twin brothers have defied extraordinary odds, claiming a $1 million Millionaire Medley lottery prize just over a year after winning a major Set for Life jackpot — with both winning tickets purchased from the very same local newsagency.
The 65-year-old siblings are now celebrating their second significant Lotterywest windfall in little more than 12 months, a run of luck that lottery officials have described as remarkable. The twins' back-to-back major prizes have left the Albany community stunned and the brothers themselves in disbelief.
A cancelled dentist appointment that changed everything
The $1 million win came about in unusual circumstances, with one of the brothers crediting a last-minute gap in his schedule for the stroke of fortune.
"When my dentist appointment was cancelled, I decided to go and get a lotto ticket," he explained. On arriving home, however, he realised he had purchased a Slikpik — a randomly generated ticket — and had forgotten to also buy his preferred set of numbers.
"I wouldn't usually ever buy more than one ticket a day, but I thought I'd pop back because I like playing the same numbers," he said. "I know it's completely random, but it's what I like to do."
That second visit to Clark's Newsagency on York Street in Albany was the one that secured the brothers their million-dollar prize. Notably, it was the same retailer that sold them their first division one ticket during their Set for Life win back in February 2025.
Their first win was already life-changing
The brothers' introduction to major lottery success came in early 2025, when their Set for Life ticket delivered a prize worth $20,000 per month for 20 years, plus a $200,000 cash lump sum. At the time, the excitement was overwhelming.
"I checked the numbers online after the draw and couldn't believe I had them all," one twin recalled of that earlier moment. "I started running around the house, I even bumped into a glass door with all the excitement. I eventually had to sit down and take a breath — that's when I called my twin brother to share the good news."
Despite not being a regular Set for Life player, the win prompted an impulsive ticket purchase he couldn't explain: "I don't usually play Set for Life but for some reason I bought the ticket."
Plans for retirement, caravans and a new watch
With two major wins now behind them, the twins say the latest windfall will let them enjoy a retirement they feel they've earned after years of physically demanding work.
"We've worked physically demanding jobs our whole lives but now we can relax a bit more, pay the house off and then we both want to get caravans so we can travel around Australia together," one brother said.
Not all celebrations look the same, though. While both twins share dreams of hitting the open road, one has already marked the occasion in a more immediate way. "I bought myself a watch because you have to treat yourself a bit," he said, adding that his girlfriend and a love of disco and dancing might feature in further celebrations.
Odds and retailer reaction
The chances of winning a major lottery prize twice are estimated at 24 trillion to one, making the Albany brothers' double windfall all the more extraordinary.
Clark's Newsagency owner Mark Plaisted noted that his store typically sells around one major winning ticket per year, joking that while the lucky buyer is elated, the next customer in line is usually less impressed at having just missed out.
A Lotterywest spokesperson said it was genuinely rare to welcome the same players back to the winners' room for a second major prize within such a short timeframe. "Winning a major prize is a memorable moment for any player, but to experience two significant wins within such a short period is remarkable," the spokesperson said.
For the Albany twins, lightning has not just struck twice — it has struck in the same spot, at the same shop, delivering life-changing results both times.
