Winner on Millionaire Hot Seat gives all his winnings to support future priests at the Redemptorist Mater Seminary in NSW.
All he wanted to do was to shake Eddie Maguire’s hand but Campbelltown (NSW) councillor Wal Glynn got to do so much more when he appeared on Channel Nine’s Millionaire Hot Seat on 27 February.
The Catholic father of eight and grandfather of 26 answered the final three questions correctly and pledged all his $100,000 winnings to the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Villawood, Sydney.
“I never thought I would win any money but if I did, that’s where it was going to go,” Wal told The Record.
“The second last question, I just guessed it, but I’m quite sure the Holy Spirit was there with me for the last question.”
The seminary is administered by the NeoCatechumenal Way and survives on providence, Wal told Hot Seat’s national television audience.
His wife Nell is a member of the Way and was there to share in the joy of her husband’s win.
Prior to the show’s taping, Wal hoped to present host Eddie Maguire with a photo of his father, one-time Collingwood player William Bill Glynn, and to thank him for his contribution to their shared passion – the Collingwood Football Club.
William Glynn played two seasons for Collingwood (1922-23) before bowing out of the team with a damaged knee.
He resumed his career at Hawthorn, playing in their grand final winning team of 1924.
Although Wal’s presentation of the photo was cut from the show, he was overjoyed to have achieved his modest aim.
“That’s all I wanted to do,” Wal told The Record. “The money was peripheral.”
Eddie Maguire clearly appreciated the gesture, introducing Wal Glynn in his own characteristic style:
“You failed Year 10 twice, ran away from home twice, joined the army, and here you are, having lived a magnificent life,” Mr Maguire said.
By the final question, Mr Maguire was gently encouraging Wal to keep some of the money for himself.
“We’ve got enough to live on,” Wal replied. “We’re not wealthy but we’ve got enough to live on. I’d love to give them a million actually.”
Wal’s son posted an abbreviated clip of his father’s win on YouTube.
Wal and Nell have since received congratulations and accolades from friends in India, Singapore and the US.
The couple attended the seminary’s opening night on Sunday, 26 February.