DUBBO'S Robin Payne had never won anything in her life - that was until luck smiled her way and granted a small Christmas miracle, which she said couldn't have come at a better time.
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Ms Payne, a Compass Housing resident, filled out a survey asking residents how to improve standards at the local social housing centre.
Ms Payne entered the draw to win the first prize- a $200 Coles Myer voucher.
A pleasantly surprised Ms Payne couldn't believe it when she received the news she'd won.
"I've never won anything before," she told the Daily Liberal.
With Christmas just around the corner the proud grandmother said the gift voucher could not have come at a more perfect time.
"It'll keep me fed over the Christmas period and buy some presents for my 18 grandchildren," she said.
Battling breast cancer while on Centrelink payments had made it a challenge to keep enough money aside for little extras after buying medications, she said.
Ms Payne said the gift voucher would go a long way, in addition to easing some of the financial stress the festive season tended to create.
She said without the help of Compass Housing her life would have been dramatically different.
"I wouldn't survive without them (Compass Housing) and would have been homeless," she said.
A very satisfied Compass Housing community development officer Paul Cheshire said Ms Payne was a highly deserving winner of the voucher.
"We are very happy she won and we know it will really help her over the Christmas season," he said.
abanob.saad@ruralpress.com