Lucky numbers paid off

The Rhodesian Herald,  February 12, 1971

A BULAWAYO businessman, Mr J. H. Wolffe is going to calm down for three days before he “splashes out” with the first prize of $75 000 which he won in Wednesday’s State Lottery draw.

“I don’t want to do anything rash,” he said today. This is the first time that Mr Wolffe has won a prize in the lottery.

“I have been taking tickets for 30 years,” he said.

“Normally I only buy three or four tickets, but for the last few months I have been buying up to 30. I felt sure that the winning ticket must have a seven and an eight in it.”

Mr Wolffe said that he had often won small raffles with tickets bearing the numbers seven and eight.

“I have stuck to my numbers through thick and thin and now it has paid off,” he said.

Asked about his nom de plume RSA, Mr Wolffe said: “It was just my sense of humour.

“People at the draw would probably think that it was a South African ticket until they heard it was a Bulawayo winner.

“I was at the shop when the results were being announced and was flabbergasted when I realised I had won the first prize.”

Mr Wolffe although “cooling down”, has a few plans for his newly found wealth. “I am putting my son through university and this will ease a lot of my financial problems. I am also going to buy a new car. The one I have at the moment is 10 years old.”

The rest of the money he plans to use for his pension. “I have worked hard enough, I am now going to take it easy,” he said.

Mr Wolffe treated himself to a plane trip to Salisbury tonight where he will collect his money tomorrow.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

• It pays to be patient, persistent and consistent. The man in the story managed to score big in the lottery because he was persistent and consistent in buying lottery tickets until he won big.
• When someone comes into some money, it is important to take a step back, plan and focus on what steps to take going forward.
• Planning for the future, especially for retirement is very important because most people suffer in their old age due to lack of savings or a proper retirement plan.