Over $18,000 was raised for local housing at the third annual Fillies & Fellas on the Fleurieu, and ShedEx Fleurieu was proud to be a Bronze sponsor.
The event ran on Melbourne Cup Day, Tuesday 3 November 2026, at 4ORE, Victor Harbor Golf Club. Think long lunch, live races, sweeps, fashions on the field and a busy auction table. Plenty of very good hats, too.
But the hats weren’t the point. Every dollar raised goes to the Fleurieu Community Foundation, for people experiencing homelessness right here on the peninsula.
Where the money goes
This isn’t a vague good cause. It’s a specific one, a few minutes from most front doors on the Fleurieu.
The Fleurieu Community Foundation buys rental properties and uses them as emergency housing for local people who need it most. Alongside the roof, people get support and mentoring to help them secure a rental of their own.
According to the event organisers, the first two Fillies & Fellas events raised more than $45,000. That has helped the Foundation acquire four properties and house 46 families and individuals so far (source).
In plain terms, that’s a safe bed, a front door that locks, and someone in your corner while you get back on your feet.
Julie on the microphone
Our own Julie Irwin volunteered her time as MC for the day.
If you’ve never tried to keep a room full of Cup Day spirits on schedule, it’s harder than it looks. Races, sweeps, auctions, speeches and the odd wandering fascinator all need to happen in the right order. Julie kept it moving with plenty of warmth and good humour.
We’re proud of her. It’s a great example of the people behind ShedEx Fleurieu giving back to the community they live and work in.
A lucky draw, put to good use
Michael drew the winning horse in the sweep. He’d love to call it expert form analysis, but it was a folded bit of paper from a bucket.
The winnings are going straight back to the Fleurieu Community Foundation. Easy come, easy give.
Why we back local causes
We build sheds, garages, carports and verandahs that help people get more out of their property. But a home starts with having a roof at all, and not everyone on the Fleurieu has one.
Fillies & Fellas is funded by local businesses, so more of what’s raised reaches the Foundation. That’s a model we’re glad to be part of, alongside so many other Fleurieu businesses.
A big thank you to the organisers, the 4ORE team, our fellow sponsors, and every guest and bidder who dug deep. Days like this are a big part of why we love doing business down here.
Want to support the cause? Visit the Fleurieu Community Foundation to learn more about their work.
