WHEN the phone first rang, Kim from South Dudley was cautious to say the least.
“I was sceptical at first, I thought I was getting pranked,” she said.
“I didn’t believe it until they sent me an email, and I could check it all and see it was legitimate. And then I just couldn’t believe it. I only entered once, and that was because my son asked me to. Before I drove off from the can collect, I just thought ‘okay, I’ll get this over and done with, I’ll just enter’ but I didn’t expect to hear anything from it.”
That single entry, the one she almost didn’t bother with, has just earned her $10,000.
The statewide Win a Million Cents competition ran from May 5 to June 15, giving people one entry for every fifty drink containers returned. Five people across Victoria won the major prize. Kim’s entry came through Wonthaggi’s Can Collect depot.
Wonthaggi depot manager Michael Imlach said the team was thrilled.
“It was a state-wide competition with five winners across the whole state. It went for six weeks. We were one of the five locations that won, so it was a bit of a big deal for us.”
Michael said the win felt personal.
“Seeing a local person win this cash prize through our Depot is an incredibly proud moment for our entire team. It’s a reflection of the dedication, customer service, and passion we’ve poured into promoting the competition within our community. We worked tirelessly to make this opportunity possible, and witnessing it benefit someone from right here in our community makes every effort worthwhile.”
The timing, he said, couldn’t have been better.
“As we celebrate our second anniversary this November, we reflect with pride on the journey we’ve shared with the communities of Bass Coast and South Gippsland. Over the past two years, our mission has been clear: to serve our region with integrity, sustainability, and community spirit. With over 24 million containers processed across our two Can Collect CDS Vic depots, we’ve not only helped reduce waste, we’ve built a movement rooted in local action and environmental responsibility. Our commitment is to continue growing with our community, one container at a time.”
For Kim, the habit of collecting cans started during one of the hardest times of her life.
“I went through treatment for breast cancer last year, and while I was doing the treatment, I needed to keep myself healthy, and they suggested walking. I was walking a lot, at least one or two hours a day. So, while I was walking, I’d take a bag with me and collect any cans I could find. It was a bit like a treasure hunt. Sometimes I can get up to 30 cans.”
As for how she’ll spend the money, she’s taking her time.
“One day I’d like to go on a holiday, but I’m not planning anything at the moment. Possibly to Cairns. Somewhere tropical and warm.”
The Win a Million Cents competition drew tens of thousands of entries from all corners of Victoria, from Geelong to Gippsland and Wodonga to Melbourne’s outer suburbs.
