Mrs Carelli, who lives and works in Forbes, was delighted to receive a phone call from Forbes Business Chamber’s Sarah Davies last Tuesday (December 24) to advise she had won the major prize in the shop local promotion.

She receives $10,000 on a Why Leave Town gift card, which can be redeemed at any of the 37 participating Forbes businesses.

Mrs Carelli said she had won raffles before, but never one this substantial.

“This one is definitely the biggest one I have got,” she said.

Mrs Carelli was not present for the draw, which occurred in Rankin Street shortly after 1pm on Christmas eve, but she soon drove into the town centre to collect her prize.

Her ticket was the first drawn from Forbes Concrete’s cement mixer and showed she had indeed made a valid purchase from nearby business, Allure on Main.

Ms Davies, the chamber’s marketing and events coordinator, said more than $27,000 had been loaded on to Why Leave Town gift cards since Forbes Business Chamber joined the local shopping program earlier this year.

She said Mrs Carelli and others who received gift cards for Christmas would all help the Forbes economy over the next few weeks and months.

“January is generally quite a quiet period, so with lots of people receiving the cards at Christmas, it will be great for the local economy and they can spend their gift cards guilt free.”

Ms Davies said of the towns that have joined the Why Leave Town program, only Goondiwindi had exceeded Forbes for the value loaded on to gift cards.

Meanwhile, Max Sly was the winner of the earlier Find it in Forbes mystery draw, held on Saturday, December 21. Mr Sly received $1500 on a Why Leave Town gift card for being present at the draw.

Mr Sly’s ticket was the 11th to be drawn out. Winners of the two previous mystery prize draws were Debbie Prior and Jan Pearson, who was lucky enough to be a winner at both the first and second draws.