It’s a rakes-to-riches story.
One day, she was tending to the garden with a green thumb, the next, a diamond ring was on her finger.
“I was in shock,” she said.
While pulling weeds in her front lawn, Alysha Bathman received a message from her colleague about the Ladies Who Lunch event in Shepparton, informing her that she had won the first prize raffle.
“I read the message and thought, are you kidding me? I thought it was a joke,” she said.
But this was no joke, wisecrack, or wool being pulled over her eyes.
On Sunday, October 27, the raffle winners were announced to a room of 700 attendees at Ladies Who Lunch, an annual fundraiser supporting the GV Health Foundation.
Just days later, Ms Bathman retrieved her prize – a breathtaking blush pink Kimberley diamond ring donated by Stephens Jewellers.
“I walked in there and told them I’m here to collect first prize, and the staff were all so excited,” she said.
“When they pulled out the box, I was like, oh my god, it’s so pretty.
“I want to say a big thank you to the Ladies Who Lunch committee and Stephens Jewellers ... I’m over the moon.”
The excitement didn’t stop with the first prize.
Second place awarded a beautifully engraved bangle to Kate Fagan, while Leeanne Archer took home a luxurious Classique Swiss watch – both generously donated by Stephens Jewellers.
Tracey Bell received the fourth prize, a Nixon & Maude hamper coupled with a $500 voucher, graciously donated by LineMasta and Nixon & Maude.
Lisa Kemp will enjoy a night off with a one-night accommodation package from Mitchelton, which includes a King Riverview room, breakfast, and six bottles of Mitchelton Estate Shiraz as the fifth prize.
Finally, Jill Maude can savour a delightful dinner at Cellar 47 in Shepparton, provided by The Karli Kollection, rounding out the impressive list of winners.