Award winner a seaworthy success

Moonraker Dolphin Swims managing director Torie Mackinnon Source: Supplied

COMMERCIAL sea captain, 10-year small business veteran and international award winner.

It's an impressive resume for 2012 Telstra Victorian Business Woman of the Year, Moonraker Dolphin Swims managing director Torie Mackinnon, but not without its challenges.

Mackinnon (pictured) was made a sea captain at age 17, an obvious contrast to the male-dominated ranks of captains who looked critically at her, "asking why this 17 year-old had this 70-foot boat", she says.

Then there was the electrical fire that stopped her boat in the water during peak tourist season.

Mackinnon took over the business after it was sold as part of a divorce settlement and has been at the helm for the past 10 years. But while it remains a family business that feeds her passion for the sea, she knows her business skills are undoubtedly driving that growth.

"We were one of the first businesses to take part in the group buying market," she says.

"If you can manage it well, you can build your revenue streams during what would otherwise be your slower periods, selling tickets that can bring in cash and make a big impact."

Mackinnon says her mother, one of the original owners, has been "the most supportive business partner in the world".

"She always told me to try whatever I wanted," she says.

To nominate someone for this year's awards, go to businesswomensawards.com

View the original article here

Lotto winner thought $40m was $40k

A Canadian lottery winner was thrilled when she thought she'd won $40,000 - and was shocked when her daughter told her she'd actually won $40 million. Source: Supplied

A TORONTO woman did a happy dance when she thought she'd won $40,000 in the lottery - and then realised she?d actually won $40 million.

Grandmother Maria Carreriro, 51, showed off her happy dance again when Canadian lottery officials presented her with a cheque for $C40 million ($37.6 million), the National Post reports.

She also threw in a few air kisses and “thank you Lord”s for good measure.

Ms Carreriro, a former factory worker-turned-stay-at-home mum, was over the moon when she told her daughter she’d just won $40,000.

"She’s jumping off the bed too and then she calls her (sister) and says, “Mommy won $40,000”, Ms Carreriro said.

"She went on the computer…and she goes 'Mommy, you’re $40 million richer. I’m like ‘no way, no way’”

“I run down the street like a crazy woman and check the lottery ticket and it says $40 million and I go ‘Oh my God.”

Ms Carreriro meant to play a different set of numbers, but ended up with a quick pick that gave her many of her usual numbers. Her husband didn’t believe her when she called him at his office to tell him the good news, she said.

Spoiling her grandchildren, buying new homes for her family and a long-delayed honeymoon to Hawaii are first on her shopping list, she said.
 

View the original article here

I want to have fun - $322m winner

Pedro Quezada, the winner of the Powerball jackpot, talks to the media during a news conference at the New Jersey Lottery headquarter. Quezada , 44, won the $338 million jackpot with the winning ticket he purchased at Eagle Liquors store in Passaic, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Source: AP

A DAY after winning a $US338 million Powerball jackpot, Pedro Quezada said he does not know what he's going to do with the money.

"I have to think about it. My mind is not clear yet,'' Quezada said through a translator at New Jersey Lottery headquarters. But he said he will help his family and have some fun.

"I'm just going to have a little spin around."

The 44-year-old, who has put in long hours at the family's bodega in Passaic, N.J., said he has also not decided whether to stay in New Jersey or move to his native the Dominican Republic, which he left at age 19.

But Quezada said he has already decided to buy a new car.

Pedro Quezada with his $US338 million cheque after winning the Popwerball lottery jackpot. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

What kind does he drive now?

"My feet,'' he said.

Flanked by his wife, children and other family members, Quezada declined to answer reporters' questions about the difficulties he has faced as an immigrant and small business owner.

"I don't want to speak about it because my life has changed,'' he said when asked about a 2009 fire in his bodega.

He declined to say how much he made each year at his store.

"These millions of dollars have erased whatever I made before,'' he said.

The jackpot was the fourth largest prize in Powerball history.

Quezada said he played the lottery two or three times a week at Eagle Liquor, on Passaic Street, because it was located between his home and his store.

When he walked into Eagle Liquor with his Powerball ticket Monday, he did not know he had won the jackpot, he said at Tuesday's press conference.

"I had no idea I was a winner,'' he said. "When I saw the commotion outside, I thought maybe this was the store that sold the winning ticket.''

Quezada answered reporters' questions in Spanish. His responses were translated by Jennifer Rodriguez, a security guard for the lottery.

He said he already has a financial plan worked out, but he does not know whether he will take the prize as a lump-sum or an annuity paid out over time. The lottery doesn't provide financial planning or other services.

If the he chooses the lump sum, it will be worth $US211 million - about $US152 million after state and federal taxes, lottery executive director Carole Hedinger said at a press conference Monday.

Read the full story at www.NorthJersey.com
 

View the original article here

One winner drawn for $324m jackpot

Thinkstock

ONE winning ticket for Saturday night's drawing of the US$338.3 million ($324 million) Powerball jackpot was sold in New Jersey, Lottery officials said.

The New Jersey Lottery released a statement that the grand prize winner was sold in that state for a grand prize annuity of US$338,300,000 or US$211,026,552.00 in cash.

A New Jersey Lottery representative told The Associated Press by telephone that details about the winning ticket would be released at a news conference on Monday. No further details about who bought the ticket or where were immediately made available by the representative, who declined to give his name.

Powerball also confirmed the winning ticket in New Jersey on its website for the numbers: 17, 29, 31, 52, 53 and Powerball 31. Powerball also said the estimated jackpot has now been reset to US$40 million overall, or US$25 million in cash.

Lottery officials say the jackpot entering Saturday night's drawing was the sixth highest in history. The Powerball jackpot was last won in early February.

View the original article here

$2.6m lotto winner has just $10 left

A MAN who won $2.6 million in a lottery has told how he blew the lot and now has less just $10 in the bank.

Roger Griffiths spent his prize on luxury cars, business deals and reuniting the rock band he was in as a teenager.

At one point, he earned almost $700 in interest every day, but a series of ill-advised deals resulted in his cash disappearing.

Pictures: Lottery winners who turn losers

The 42-year-old British father of two took to YouTube and told The Sun that his lottery win had been a "poisoned chalice" after it led to the break-up of his marriage and the loss of the family home.

Mr Griffiths had been working in IT when he scooped more than $2.6 million on a UK lottery in 2005.

Roger Griffiths (with guitar) and his band. He blew $2.6 million in lottery winnings. Picture: via Facebook

He and his wife Lara immediately quit their jobs and threw themselves into a jetset lifestyle, buying a new home, sending their kids to posh schools and taking lavish holidays abroad.

Mr Griffiths also paid close to $50,000 to make a record with his old band, FMB, which ended up selling just 600 copies.

One bad investment turned sour during the GFC, leading to the loss of the couple's home and the end of their marriage.

"I had it all, but now it's gone," Mr Griffiths told the Sun. 'I've been borrowing money from my parents - that's how bad it is."

He has now started working again as a freelance recruitment consultant, but spends most of his income on the bills he racked up during his short-live period of wealth.

"The money I bring in goes on bills I racked up during the heyday and there’s just not enough to cover them. If it wasn’t for my family helping me financially I’d be in trouble. Looking back the lottery win was like a poisoned chalice.”

View the original article here

$2.6m lotto winner has just $10 left

A MAN who won $2.6 million in a lottery has told how he blew the lot and now has less just $10 in the bank.

Roger Griffiths spent his prize on luxury cars, business deals and reuniting the rock band he was in as a teenager.

At one point, he earned almost $700 in interest every day, but a series of ill-advised deals resulted in his cash disappearing.

Pictures: Lottery winners who turn losers

The 42-year-old British father of two took to YouTube and told The Sun that his lottery win had been a "poisoned chalice" after it led to the break-up of his marriage and the loss of the family home.

Mr Griffiths had been working in IT when he scooped more than $2.6 million on a UK lottery in 2005.

Roger Griffiths (with guitar) and his band. He blew $2.6 million in lottery winnings. Picture: via Facebook

He and his wife Lara immediately quit their jobs and threw themselves into a jetset lifestyle, buying a new home, sending their kids to posh schools and taking lavish holidays abroad.

Mr Griffiths also paid close to $50,000 to make a record with his old band, FMB, which ended up selling just 600 copies.

One bad investment turned sour during the GFC, leading to the loss of the couple's home and the end of their marriage.

"I had it all, but now it's gone," Mr Griffiths told the Sun. 'I've been borrowing money from my parents - that's how bad it is."

He has now started working again as a freelance recruitment consultant, but spends most of his income on the bills he racked up during his short-live period of wealth.

"The money I bring in goes on bills I racked up during the heyday and there’s just not enough to cover them. If it wasn’t for my family helping me financially I’d be in trouble. Looking back the lottery win was like a poisoned chalice.”

View the original article here

$2.6m lotto winner has just $10 left

A MAN who won $2.6 million in a lottery has told how he blew the lot and now has less just $10 in the bank.

Roger Griffiths spent his prize on luxury cars, business deals and reuniting the rock band he was in as a teenager.

At one point, he earned almost $700 in interest every day, but a series of ill-advised deals resulted in his cash disappearing.

Pictures: Lottery winners who turn losers

The 42-year-old British father of two took to YouTube and told The Sun that his lottery win had been a "poisoned chalice" after it led to the break-up of his marriage and the loss of the family home.

Mr Griffiths had been working in IT when he scooped more than $2.6 million on a UK lottery in 2005.

Roger Griffiths (with guitar) and his band. He blew $2.6 million in lottery winnings. Picture: via Facebook

He and his wife Lara immediately quit their jobs and threw themselves into a jetset lifestyle, buying a new home, sending their kids to posh schools and taking lavish holidays abroad.

Mr Griffiths also paid close to $50,000 to make a record with his old band, FMB, which ended up selling just 600 copies.

One bad investment turned sour during the GFC, leading to the loss of the couple's home and the end of their marriage.

"I had it all, but now it's gone," Mr Griffiths told the Sun. 'I've been borrowing money from my parents - that's how bad it is."

He has now started working again as a freelance recruitment consultant, but spends most of his income on the bills he racked up during his short-live period of wealth.

"The money I bring in goes on bills I racked up during the heyday and there’s just not enough to cover them. If it wasn’t for my family helping me financially I’d be in trouble. Looking back the lottery win was like a poisoned chalice.”

View the original article here

$2.6m lotto winner has just $10 left

A MAN who won $2.6 million in a lottery has told how he blew the lot and now has less just $10 in the bank.

Roger Griffiths spent his prize on luxury cars, business deals and reuniting the rock band he was in as a teenager.

At one point, he earned almost $700 in interest every day, but a series of ill-advised deals resulted in his cash disappearing.

Pictures: Lottery winners who turn losers

The 42-year-old British father of two took to YouTube and told The Sun that his lottery win had been a "poisoned chalice" after it led to the break-up of his marriage and the loss of the family home.

Mr Griffiths had been working in IT when he scooped more than $2.6 million on a UK lottery in 2005.

Roger Griffiths (with guitar) and his band. He blew $2.6 million in lottery winnings. Picture: via Facebook

He and his wife Lara immediately quit their jobs and threw themselves into a jetset lifestyle, buying a new home, sending their kids to posh schools and taking lavish holidays abroad.

Mr Griffiths also paid close to $50,000 to make a record with his old band, FMB, which ended up selling just 600 copies.

One bad investment turned sour during the GFC, leading to the loss of the couple's home and the end of their marriage.

"I had it all, but now it's gone," Mr Griffiths told the Sun. 'I've been borrowing money from my parents - that's how bad it is."

He has now started working again as a freelance recruitment consultant, but spends most of his income on the bills he racked up during his short-live period of wealth.

"The money I bring in goes on bills I racked up during the heyday and there’s just not enough to cover them. If it wasn’t for my family helping me financially I’d be in trouble. Looking back the lottery win was like a poisoned chalice.”

View the original article here