IT'S not often one wins $35,000 simply by answering the phone.

Banora Point residents Rhona and Tony Lee did, when Channel Nine's Today Show came a-calling on Monday morning.

"It was about 7.40am, I think," Mrs Lee said.

"I was watching it and Lisa (Wilkinson) said 'We are phoning Rhonda Lee'.

"I answered, said 'I wake up with today' and they said 'Congratulations Rhonda you've won $35,000'.

"I said 'Great, but my name's Rhona' - I was worried they'd address the cheque to 'Rhonda'."

The cheque will not arrive until April but Nine's Alison Ariotti has already visited the Lees with a camera crew and bottle of champagne.

"It's hard to remember what happened. I think I was running down the hall to answer it (the phone)," he said.

Mrs Lee said the Today Show asked if she had a friend to share the money with.

"I said 'Yes, my husband'.

"I told them he'd gone into the bedroom but I didn't know what for.

"They said 'We'll let you get back to the bedroom'."

The Banora residents of 10 years used to phone in to register for the cash jackpot competition until Mrs Lee bought a mobile phone and learned to text in to the show.

"I said if you win $5000, which is the normal prize," Mr Lee said, "you can forget about the phone bill."

The pair may spend the money on their daughter and granddaughter, install some needed drainage at the back of their home or go on a longed-for European river cruise.

Or, why not? Do all three.

Until then they have been advised by a Twin Towns Seniors Club friend who won a Twin Towns Services Club $25,000 prize not long ago to "sit back and think about it for a while".

"We had a coffee with her just a couple of days ago and she must have been good luck," Mrs Lee said.

Her brother-in-law was only a few days ago diagnosed with bowel and bone cancer, so the pair is humble in their comparative luck.

Of course the bell has tolled on many false "I wake up with Today" moments.

"We have answered the phone with 'I wake up with Today' and our brother-in-law has responded 'You what?'," Mr Lee said.

"We've always been Channel Nine fans. We like Lisa, there's something about Lisa," Mrs Lee said.

"And Georgie (Gardner) is alright," Mr Lee said. "Karl . . . he's a bit over the top sometimes."