Ms Hodge worked in Yea hospital and retired recently after 40 years of service.
“I support the local people, the local traders in Yea, and what I can’t get in Yea, I go to Seymour, and so I support both local communities, having lived in the area for the 60-odd years,” she said.
“I was unaware that they had a promotion on the day that I bought this probiotic.”
Ms Hodge received a phone call six weeks after the purchase, telling her she had won $5000 Mastercard credit.
“I was very stunned,” she said.
“At first I thought, ‘Oh, don’t tell me my credit card’s bounced’ and I immediately went into the iPad and had a look to see that the credit card payment had gone through, and it was fine.”
A representative from Discount Chemist in Melbourne left a message on her answering machine about her credit and she was at a loss for what it was about.
“She said, ‘Oh, we’ve got a nice surprise for you’, and then she went into the details of what I had won, and I was actually astounded,” Ms Hodge said.
The $5000 Mastercard credit can be used by Ms Hodge anywhere, either in-store, other stores, or even just to withdraw it in cash if she needs it.
“It was a nice surprise, and it’s a worthy prize,” she said.
“It's something particularly in this time of economic crisis, it would be helpful to anybody that won it.
“It’s a worthwhile prize. It’s not one of these prizes that you might want, or you might not want.
“I thought it was well worth the idea that they put it forward in that way.”
Chemist Discount Centre Seymour said it was excited to have a local winner at the pharmacy.
“Our customers love the Club Card loyalty program. It helps them save even more off their pharmacy shop and gives them the chance to win fantastic prizes like this one,” it said.
“Customers simply had to purchase and scan their Club Card to enter the draw.
“Our customer, Shirley, came in to purchase some Inner Health Plus probiotics and was surprised and delighted to be drawn as the $5000 prize winner.”
Ms Hodge said she was thankful to Chemist Discount Centre Seymour and all the people who organised the presentation of her prize on Friday, July 19.
