THE WINNER of Great Southern Bank’s $50,000 Pick Your Seat competition, keen Carlton fan Hong Ky Ho, will use his prize money to help move his parents out of their public housing unit and buy their first house.
This is the third time that Great Southern Bank, which is co-major partner of Carlton Football Club, has given away $50,000 to help with a home deposit.
Before winning the money Hong Ky, a young Melbourne doctor who hasn’t bought his own first home yet, was already looking to buy a property for the parents who had sacrificed so much for him.
“My parents came over from Vietnam in the early 90s, and I was born in one of the housing commission flats where my parents still live,” said Hong Ky.
“They did what they could to support me. My mum was a childcare worker, and my dad had health conditions that made it difficult to work.”
With their support Hong Ky graduated from medicine a couple of years ago and works full time at a major Melbourne hospital.
“I was already in the process of buying a house for them and repaying them for all they’ve done for me. Winning this $50,000 is a life-changing amount of money, and to be able to buy a house for my parents means they can have a bit of independence.”
It was thanks to his friendship in primary school with a Blues supporter that Hong Ky became a Carlton fan himself, and ultimately led to him winning the $50,000 prize.
“I was born in the year when Carlton last won the premiership. In fact, I’ve been an avid Carlton supporter since I was a kid and a follower on what has been a great journey.
“We’re really proud of what the Carlton Football Club has done and I do think there’s a chance they’ll be holding the Premiership cup at the end of the year.”
Megan Keleher, Chief Customer Officer at Great Southern Bank, said: “We’re so pleased that the prize money is being put to such a good use. The purpose of this competition – and Great Southern Bank itself – is to help Australians to own their own home, and it’s great that we’re able to help with such a worthy cause.”
