By BRIDGET SCOTT
AS the old saying goes, diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but are they friendlier than $10,000 cash?
In the case of Olinda Lui, apparently they are.
Despite forgetting she had entered, the Berwick resident was the winner of Cold Rock’s Cash Versus Rock competition.
Ms Lui was up against more than 20,000 entries, including people who had entered numerous times, but it was her one and only submission that won her the one-carat diamond prize.
The winner was given the choice between $10,000 cash and the diamond ring, but with a wedding approaching later this year the decision to take the rock worth about $15,000 was a no-brainer.
Ms Lui said the cash would have gone so fast but the ring is something she can hold on to forever.
“The money would all to towards my wedding and it would be gone so quick,” she said.
“This is something very different and something physical that I can have.”
“It was no competition at all for me.”
The registered nurse said she can remember a surreal phone call which prompted her memory to the fact that she had entered.
“I’m in shock,” she said.
“I totally forgot I had entered.”
Ms Lui said it was split-second decision to go to Cold Rock one night in January after having dinner with friends.
Despite the fact that the group arrived due to closing time, it was fate that they were let in.
“They kindly let me in – I entered the competition and kind of forgot about it.”
Ms Lui described it as perfect timing with an impending wedding later this year.
With 90 per cent of entrants choosing cash as their preferred prize, Ms Lui’s choice has landed her a one-carat diamond, with an estimated retail value of over $15,000.
The competition ran over six weeks and called on customers to choose their favourite Cold Rock Ice Cream Mix In combo and the chance to take home something a little extra.
Chief executive officer of Cold Rock Stan Gordon was ecstatic to finally announce a winner.
“Revealing the winner for such a grand prize is a very momentous occasion, and we’re excited to provide this once in a lifetime and very wonderful opportunity to Olinda,” he said.
“While $10,000 could buy a lot of Cold Rock Ice Cream, the joy of gifting a soon to be bride with a diamond in time for her special day, is extremely rewarding.”
