On Australia Day 2021, the City of Adelaide in partnership with the Australia Day Council (SA) awarded Glam Adelaide CEO Kelly Noble and Showcase South Australia CEO Steve Testar the prestigious Community Event of the Year award for the SA4SA Bushfire Appeal Gala.
The Glam Adelaide Foundation SA4SA Bushfire Appeal Gala fundraising event was held on 31st January 2020 at the Adelaide Convention Centre, after being put into motion only days after bushfires began ravaging the Adelaide Hills in December 2019. Nearly four hundred thousand dollars was raised and donated to South Australian bushfire affected communities.
Kelly’s business Glam Adelaide is a positive South Australian news website, while Steve’s company Showcase South Australia, focuses on business networking and events. As both organisations strongly support local South Australian business and communities, it was a natural fit for both to refocus their resources to pull together the gala.
Kelly said “Our team initially focused on running a bushfire social media group to help keep communication channels open for all those impacted or wanting to help, but it became clear that more needed to be done. Glam Adelaide went on to publish over 120 articles focused on bushfire resources, guides to help impacted businesses, and information on fundraising events, but we really wanted to help use our huge South Australian network to really make a difference. The gala was an obvious choice for us.”
Steve said “Using Showcase SA’s strong business network across South Australia and Glam Adelaide’s large readership, we were able to secure fantastic donations, and work with dozens of generous businesses who were able to supply wine, local produce, event theming, entertainment, auction donations and more, to ensure the success of the event.”
Supported by of dozens of selfless volunteers, the event rallied South Australians to support those impacted by the bushfires. This resulted in 1400 gala tickets being sold in a single week, making it the largest indoor event of 2020 for South Australia.
To facilitate the raising of money and to guarantee the money raised was able to stay within South Australia, the Glam Adelaide Foundation was established in early January 2020 to oversee the event. This ensured that of the money raised from the event, $381,340 was provided directly to South Australian families and businesses.
$279,086 was donated directly to the State Government’s SA Bushfire Appeal.
In addition to the funds raised by ticket sales and the auction on the night for the SA Bushfire Appeal, $102,254 was also raised by a series of bucket list dinners which were auctioned off, donated by Duncan Welgemoed (Africola) and his fantastic network of inspiring chefs. Funds from the dinners were donated to the Adelaide Hills Wine Region Bushfire Appeal, and two of the hardest hit wineries, Tilbrook Estate and Vinteloper.
As another extension of their support, free premium listings were provided to SA businesses affected by the bushfires on the I Choose SA business directory, which is run by Showcase SA.
Steve and Kelly were humbled by the support and generosity shown by South Australians to their fellow South Aussies in need of help.
