THE final winners of the 2020 GMCU $15,000 Cracking Christmas Shopping Spree Giveaway were announced just prior to Christmas, with five lucky shoppers each taking home a $1,000 Shopping Spree.
An incredible 93,771 entries to the competition filled a fruit bin in The Adviser office foyer, with GMCU chief executive officer, Melissa Ralph, and Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Cr Kim O’Keeffe, drawing winning forms from the collection.
December’s Cracking Christmas Giveaway, supported by The Adviser, combined the GMCU’s March $30,000 Giveaway, which was paused on account of Coronavirus restrictions.
The five $1,000 winners were:
• Mikala Allan of Kyabram, who bagged her Shopping Spree after shopping for bargains at SPC Factory Sales on Corio Street in Shepparton
• Antonella Skinner of Kialla, who lucked in after spending $20 at Crossroads at Shepparton Marketplace
• Yvonne Prince of Mooroopna shopped at Finny’s Manchester and got lucky in the draw
• Judy Frost of Shepparton won after doing her normal shop at Fairley’s IGA
• Karen Smyth of Shepparton also won after shopping at Fairley’s IGA Shepparton, and claimed herself a cool $1,000
“I’m absolutely rapt and tickled!” said Karen Smyth.
“You’ve absolutely made my day! It’s going to make this Christmas a memorable one.”
In addition to the five final big winners, two staff members from winning entries, who had initialled the entry, have gone home with a $500 Shopping Spree:
Shelley Poliness of Shepparton Amcal+ Pharmacy, and Debbie Daniel of Plush Sofas Shepparton were the lucky two employees.
The Adviser managing editor, Geoff Adams, said with more than 93,000 entries, it was a wonderful reflection on how shopping locally supported the city’s businesses.
“It’s been wonderful to partner again, for the 17th year, with the GMCU to run this Giveaway, despite everything else that’s happened this year,” he said.
FAMILY WIN… Sam Prentice of SPC Factory Sales joined winner Mikala Allan and her two girls, Ruby and Poppy, with The Adviser’s Will Adams to celebrate her big win. Photo: Steve Hutcheson 
PLUSH AS… Winner Debbie Daniel of Plush Sofa joined her boss Gaelle Farrugia on the snuggle chair to celebrate her win with The Adviser’s Will Adams. The girls said they were looking forward to opening on Boxing Day for their big sale from 10-5pm. Photo: Struan Jones 
COOL CATCH… Steve Murray of Fairley’s IGA Shepparton joined The Adviser’s Struan Jones to congratulate Judy Frost, who left with a cool $1,000. Photo: Steve Hutcheson 
FRESH PICKINGS… Fairley’s IGA Shepparton’s Steve Murray came out to congratulate winner, Karen Smyth, with The Adviser’s Struan Jones. Photo: Steve Hutcheson 
STAFF WIN… Shirley Poliness of Shepparton Amcal+ Pharmacy said she planned to spend her money locally. She celebrated with Amcal’s Archana Deo and The Adviser’s Struan Jones. Photo: Steve Hutcheson 
CROSSROADS… Winning at Shepparton Marketplace, Lauren Hotchkiss of Crossroads congratulated winner, Antonella Skinner, with Geoff Adams of The Adviser. Photo: Steve Hutcheson 
KEEP YOU COVERED… Yvonne Prince shopped her way to a cool $1,000 at Finny’s Manchester. She was joined by Shirley Blick (left), Tina Sicali, and The Adviser’s Geoff Adams. Photo: Steve Hutcheson
