By Matthew Sims
Pakenham local Tam Murphy has had her dreams to travel to Las Vegas for her 50th birthday come true after winning $88,000 on Channel 10 game show Deal or No Deal during the Tuesday 30 January episode.
The 49-year-old dog sitter and bartender was recovering from a recent hip replacement when she saw applications were open to join in the audience and go in the running to be a contestant.
“I’ve always been a fan of the show,” Tam said.
She said she was not expecting to get called up to join host Grant Denyer on the main stage.
“I got the shock of my life,” Tam said.
She picked case number 6 as it is her son’s birthday and her “lucky number”.
Little did Tam know how lucky the case was, as the cases continued to fall, the high amounts still remained.
Tam said she thought she refused just the right amount of offers from ‘The Banker’, including offers of $4114, $8700, $17,400, $34,800 and $62,000.
“I played the game perfectly,” she said.
The final two amounts remaining on the board were $75,000 and $100,000, with ‘The Banker’ offering $88,000.
Tam said she was glad she took the deal, despite her case containing $100,000 at the end of the game.
“I honestly believe I made the right choice,” she said.
Tam brought along her old Pakenham High School friend Lynda Meulman-Knowles, who was visiting from interstate.
She said they both loved being part of the high-energy show, with the audience cheering her on throughout her journey.
“It’s such a fun, upbeat and exciting place to be a part of,” Tam said.
She said she also loved meeting and playing alongside host Grant Denyer.
“He’s such a people person,” Tam said.
Speaking about how she would use the money, she became emotional, dreaming of her trip and also putting some money towards buying a house after renting in Pakenham all of her life.
“It’s a dream I’ve had since I was 18 to go to Vegas,” Tam said.
“It’s going to make my dream come true.
“I can now go to Vegas.”
She said the winnings would be life-changing for her.
“I’m just a little battler who gets by each week,” Tam said.
“It’s huge for me.”
Tam celebrated her win with a watch party at Railway Hotel Pakenham on Tuesday 30 January.
“I want to share this opportunity with my friends and family,” she said.
