THE winner of first prize at the 2014 Rotary Club of Airlie Beach community raffle, Jennifer Ellis, collected her brand new Holden Barina from Crossley Holden on Saturday morning.

The raffle was drawn in mid-June but the winner was handed the keys to her new car on Saturday.

The beauty therapist who works for Qualia Resort on Hamilton Island excitedly waved her new keys in the air and squealed.

"It's awesome, the Rotary Club is amazing, I don't even understand how all of this happened," she said.

Ms Ellis purchased the winning ticket from Qualia Resort and first thought it was all a joke.

"I said to my friend "I'm not going to buy one [a ticket], I never win anything" and then I bought a ticket and I won - it's crazy," she said.

"I got a text the night the draw was announced and I didn't believe it but then I received a phone call the next day and it was all real."

Originally from Melbourne, Ms Ellis has been living on Hamilton Island for three years and is excited to have a car to use on weekends.

"I come to Airlie on my weekends so it's going to be so great to finally have a car and to be able to travel around with

ease," she said. Crossley Holden dealer principal Ben Hancock handed over the keys to Ms Ellis on Saturday morning.

"It's fantastic for Rotary to give us the opportunity to provide the car to the prize winner," he said.

The grey Holden Barina was valued at over $15,000.

"Crossley Holden have a great product and it's great that Rotary consider us worthy enough to be a first prize sup

plier," Mr Hancock said.

Rotary Club of Airlie Beach president Allan Robinson was also part of the offical handover.

"It's great she can collect a car and that Rotary can give back to community with this raffle and that all non-profit organisations can make money through that," he said.