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'Just my nature': Plaudits for worker's generous act before woman's heartwarming Lotto win

Author
Michaela Gower,
Publish Date
Tue, 16 Jan 2024, 11:39am

'Just my nature': Plaudits for worker's generous act before woman's heartwarming Lotto win

Author
Michaela Gower,
Publish Date
Tue, 16 Jan 2024, 11:39am

A听heartwarming story about a $1 million Lotto win听has not just shone the spotlight on winner Rana, but also the community of Maraenui. Michaela Gower reports.听

When petrol station supervisor Scott Brown got a call from a woman to say she needed fuel but didn鈥檛 have the money for it, it was an easy enough decision.听

Have my $10. Come back tomorrow. Pay me for it then, he told Rana last Monday.听

That鈥檚 Brown鈥檚 daily mantra at Challenge Maraenui, the service station near the heart of one of Napier鈥檚 poorest communities - that when you can, you help those who need it.听

This time, within two hours, Rana was back standing on his forecourt. She was now a millionaire.听

She had fuelled her car and then stopped at Maraenui Four Square just down the road,听where she checked two Lotto tickets听and won on both of the gifted tickets - the first $68, the second $1 million.

Brown, who has worked at the petrol station for 28 years, told听Hawke鈥檚 Bay Today听he regularly loaned money for fuel to those in need. He sees it as the Maraenui way.

Scott Brown said it's how the Maraenui community works, and they look after each other. Photo / Warren BucklandScott Brown said it's how the Maraenui community works, and they look after each other. Photo / Warren Buckland

People will pay him back when they can, he says, and they always do.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just my general nature. I鈥檝e struggled and people have loaned me stuff and what goes around comes around.鈥�

Brown speaks fondly of the Maraenui community. He sees it as a true community that has finally had its inherent goodness thrown into the spotlight.

Rana went public after her $1 million Lotto win last week. Photo / Warren BucklandRana went public after her $1 million Lotto win last week. Photo / Warren Buckland

鈥淚t is amazing to see people that can come together and just appreciate each other and help each other out.鈥�

Brown said after the call听from Rana, he didn鈥檛 expect her back until the next day.

鈥淎bout an hour and a half later I saw her drive past. Then she was straight back here after she had the excitement. She came in and was bawling her eyes out.鈥�

Brown said he was confused at first but after he realised what had happened he was gobsmacked at the news.

鈥淪he said I don鈥檛 need to borrow any more money from you ever again, I鈥檝e just won the Lotto.鈥�

Brown has known Rana since she was a child and the close nature of Maraenui meant he was aware that the family was facing hard times, he said.

Scott Brown said it was the craziest thing to happen in the 28 years he has worked at the petrol station. Photo / Warren BucklandScott Brown said it was the craziest thing to happen in the 28 years he has worked at the petrol station. Photo / Warren Buckland

Brown said when Rana paid him back, he told her he didn鈥檛 expect any money other than the $10, and advised her to listen to the professional financial advice she would be given.

Napier City Nelson Park ward councillor Maxine Boag said the Maraenui community she lives in was the most connected suburb in Napier.

鈥淧eople do help and support each other, in a giving way.鈥�

Boag has been a councillor for 16 years and believed that people would 鈥渒eep an eye鈥� on Rana as she goes through the massive change.

鈥淲hen one person or family gets lucky it just lifts the spirit of the whole 鈥楴ui鈥� because they do all care about each other.鈥�

Michaela Gower joined Hawke鈥檚 Bay Today in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke and Hawke鈥檚 Bay news and has a love for sharing stories about farming and rural communities.

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