A Win Close to the Heart

Life sometimes feels like a lottery—the draw is completely out of your hands and all you know is that you have to be in it to win it. For Byron Cock, the optimism that drove him to ‘be in it’ paid off when he won the Grand Prize of MS Lotteries 242. 

Holding onto hope and entering the MS Lotteries is even more remarkable when you consider the huge loss he has felt since his wife’s passing only 2 years ago.  

His wife, Carmel, lived with MS and her and Byron’s lives became closely intertwined with MS Queensland throughout her journey with the condition. Over the years until her passing, Carmel accessed many of the services and supports available through MS Queensland, including Specialist Disability Accommodation with 24-hour care. She also received support from an MS Queensland Support Coordinator who helped connect her with services and equipment to support her independence and quality of life. The compassion and dedication of her carers left a lasting impression on both Carmel and Byron, helping her remain engaged with family, friends and the wider community despite the challenges of living with MS.

Byron saw first-hand what the right support at the right time could do for a person living with a neurological condition, such as MS, motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s, dementia, epilepsy, stroke, chronic migraine and more. His dear Carmel lived with a neurological condition that disrupted connection between the brain and the body, but that didn’t mean isolation or loneliness. Indeed, MS Queensland remained part of their journey—providing care, stability and support when it mattered most and enveloping a community that cared around them.  

When Byron took the call telling him he was an MS Lotteries Winner, he was flooded with emotion—reflection, gratitude and reminiscing on a journey connected to a cause close to his heart. Over the years, while MS Queensland supported him and his wife, he quietly supported the cause whenever he could through donations and entering MS Lotteries. Byron became a member of the MS Club in April 2025, meaning that every entry gave him additional chances to win while helping fund the vital support and services that had played an important role in his and Carmel's journey. 

He was thrilled when he found out he won the lottery. To him, it’s his second windfall: the first, finding the love of his life in Carmel, and the second, the MS Lotteries win. 

“Reflecting on my life, I have had 2 really good lucks. One when Carmel decided to match up with me, and last week when I discovered my win of the MS Raffle.” 

As part of his win, Byron received an incredible prize package including a $100k choice of luxury car and $50k in Gold bullion—a life-changing moment by anyone’s measure. Along with exciting plans for property renovations, Byron hopes to use some of the winnings to support his family. Yet behind this win sits a deeply meaningful connection to the cause he has supported for many years. 

Carmel’s memory continues to live on through Byron’s outlook and his ongoing support of MS Lotteries. 



It’s a perspective grounded in love, resilience and appreciation, and a reminder of what truly matters. 

If you’d like to learn more about Carmel’s journey and her connection with MS Queensland, you can watch her story here.

As an MS Club member, Byron had been supporting MS Lotteries for some time, drawn not only to the strong odds but also to the impact each ticket makes. “I liked the odds… and in part, it was in thanks for the help Carmel received.” 

His story is a powerful reflection of what MS Lotteries makes possible, not only life-changing prizes for winners, but vital funding that supports services like specialist accommodation and round-the-clock care for people living with neurological conditions, such as MS, epilepsy, MND, dementia and more. 

While Byron’s win marks a meaningful moment, it also honours a life shared with Carmel—one filled with care, resilience and enduring connection. 

From everyone at MS Lotteries, we’re thrilled for our winner and incredibly grateful for their ongoing support. Congratulations, and thank you for being part of the journey to help people living with neurological conditions like MS live well.  

Become an MS Club Member and be part of something truly meaningful. Every entry helps fund vital services for the 1 in 4 Queenslanders living with a neurological condition, supporting individuals and families facing the challenges these conditions can bring. As an MS Club Member, you'll also enjoy automatic entry into exclusive weekly $500 Voucher draws and monthly $5,000 Cash* Prize draws, giving you the chance to share in an extra $86,000 in prizes every year. With odds of 1 in 10,000 of being a winner, you could be the next MS Lotteries winner we celebrate.