School of Arts hall trust chair Mary Hollingworth said the weekend event drew around 80 mostly female punters.

"It sent people home with their spirits buoyed," she said.

"One of our lovely guests who'd come from Tenterfield was one of the people whose home was threatened by the Tenterfield fire; it was her first outing since the fire.

"There were similar stories of people - it was the first time they'd been off the farm for a social thing apart from to buy the groceries for two months.

"it was a very special event and we were really really thrilled to be able to do it for our community."

The School of Arts has long held an annual high tea fundraiser, but with uncooperative weather conditions they decided to move indoors.

Ms Hollingworth said they were aiming for an event with no raffle, no cost, no obligation, just a good time.

"What we wanted was for people to come, to be entertained, to be rejuvenated, to laugh, enjoy an afternoon tea," she said.

"And just have a little bit of frivolous fun."

A squad of models showed off some of the finest new threads from Tenterfield fashion shop Simple Country, with owner Carol Campbell on hand to help residents scratch their retail itch.

Ms Hollingworth said the fashion show was part of keeping the School a "hub of the community". They're planning on holding a repeat event early next year, around January.

Their next event will be the Deepwater Cool Choir's end of year concert, penciled in for December 14.

Glenrac helped fund the event, with catering done by the Red Cross.

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