Lucky Audi Winners

08.05.12

If you spot a couple of brand spanking new Audi A1 hatchbacks around town with drivers sporting huge permanent grins splashed across their faces, there is a good chance they belong to a couple of very lucky members of The Tradies.

Saturday night marked the exciting finale to "The A1 Club"; a very popular promotion that saw the winners of two cars drawn from barrels, straining under the weight of tickets, one at The Dickson Tradies and one at The Woden Tradies, as hundreds of members waited in hopeful anticipation. An additional $5,000 cash bonus was on offer for a winner present in either club at the time of the draw.

At The Dickson Tradies, Tan Phuoc Tran was very quick to claim his prize. With members scattered throughout the club listening to the announcement via the PA system, the retired engineer, parked right next to the microphone immediately shot up his hand, identifying himself as the winner with a quiet "It's me!"

A club member for the past ten years, Tran and his wife Thu Van Thi Le said they could not remember ever winning a substantial prize before. "This is the first time in my life I've got the lucky number," he said as the thought of winning a $30,000 car and $5,000 cash began to sink in. A former employee of the Federal Airports Corporation, Tan operated the Saigon restaurant in Pearce before retiring to Turner. He joined The Tradies through the old Downer Club.

The lucky member from The Woden Tradies, Nola Cronin from Weston Creek (turning 76 this month), was unable to attend the draw but could not believe her luck. "I was so excited I couldn't get to sleep until four in the morning," she said, barely unable to contain her emotions. A widow since her husband Barry passed away in October, Nola is very reliant on her car. "I've chosen a white automatic and couldn't be happier. I'm absolutely thrilled. I've been a member of The Tradies for about 40 years."

Good on you Tran and Nola, and happy motoring!