Aristide Nininahazwe and Esther Mboneye weren’t expecting to win a $4 million dollar lottery prize. The prize, which includes a $3 million house, and a cheque for $1 million, is part of a lottery run by The Hospital Research Foundation Group. The non-profit raises money for life-changing research, improved hospital care and support services.
Aristide and Esther bought a ticket to support the cause. Both work in healthcare- Aristide as a support worker, and Esther as a nurse, and said they wanted to give back to medical research. Their ticket was the lucky winner out of 200,000 tickets that were bought.
“Our aim was not to win this … it was just to give back to the community,” Aristide said.
“I still can’t believe it … why us?… I feel like I do not deserve this.” Ether said to Sunrise, an Australian morning television show.
The couple both came to Australia separately as refugees from Burundi a decade ago. They are now planning a trip back to Burundi to visit family. For now the couple plan to move into their house just in time for the birth of their baby in August.
