When Fergal Treanor received his offer to upgrade to Season membership after patiently waiting In The Wings for eight years, he thought this would be the best news he would receive from the West Coast Eagles in 2015.
The London native, who became an In The Wings member when he and his wife Pip moved to Perth in 2007, got the call of his life from the West Coast Eagles to let him know he had won the Early Bird Prize in the 2015 Eagles in the Community Game-Changer Lottery.
His prize? The choice between an eight-day African safari, worth $19,660, or $20,000 in cash!
Mr Treanor brooked no hesitation in choosing the cash immediately, and was today presented with his prize by 2014 Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis.
“The prize itself is incredible, but to have it come from my footy team and to meet the players, it’s just fantastic,” said Mr Treanor, who has previously purchased raffle tickets from the club without a win.
Mr Treanor, whose young daughter Abbie has cerebral palsy, took the opportunity to have Priddis sign his guernsey, which he will use as a raffle item in fundraising for the Conductive Education Centre of WA, a not-for-profit organisation that has provided Abbie with essential education and rehabilitation.
Abbie receives Conductive Education, a holistic educational system for those with motor difficulties, at the Carson Street School in East Victoria Park, which partners with CECWA.
Importantly, Abbie attends the school using satellite technology, which allows her and Pip, a midwife who works weekend shift-work, to stay close to home.
The gift of the Brownlow-medallist signed guernsey will be a surprise donation to CECWA and the school, in hopes that they can continue with their important work.
Mr and Mrs Treanor have yet to determine how they will spend their winnings, but a European holiday may be on the cards for these deserving parents.
“My daughter Lauren is studying Italian, so we’d love to take her to Italy and pay a visit back to the UK while we’re over there,” she said.
But first, a celebration is in order.
“We’ve got some champagne in the fridge waiting, and I think it will be opened tonight!” said Mrs Treanor.
Net proceeds from Game-Changer Lottery will provide much-needed funds to the club’s Eagles in the Community programs, growing grassroots footy in Western Australia.
Tickets are still available for the Grand Prize, a choice between a 60-day cruise of a lifetime on Cunard’s Queen Mary II, valued at $125,580, or $125,000 in cash.
