For 47 years, the Victor Harbor Art Show has been one of South Australia’s most iconic summer events. Run by the Rotary Club of Victor Harbor, the show transforms Warland Reserve into a vibrant cultural hub each January. Inside a huge marquee overlooking the foreshore, thousands of visitors wander through high quality artworks, meet local creators, and enjoy the buzz of community coming together. The atmosphere is always lively—full of colour, creativity, and the excitement of discovering art you love.
This year, ShelterBox once again had the privilege of being part of this beloved event, thanks to the dedication of longtime volunteer and advocate Peter Jarvis. Two years ago, while arranging a club presentation, a simple conversation blossomed into an idea: why not create a full ShelterBox display for the entire duration of the Art Show? That idea has now become a powerful opportunity to introduce thousands of people to the lifesaving aid ShelterBox provides.
Bringing ShelterBox to the Community
ShelterBox’s presence at the event was impossible to miss. Peter set up a full ShelterBox tent in a prime position at the marquee entrance—drawing curiosity and conversation from the moment doors opened. Inside the tent, visitors could see the tools, equipment, and essential aid items that help people rebuild after disaster.
Inside the art marquee itself, Peter created a second touchpoint: a table with assorted aid items and a looping ShelterBox video on his trusty old laptop—which impressively played nonstop for 216 hours, right through the nights. A popular money spinner at the entrance collected donations throughout the week, raising $460!
The standout item? The solar light—everyone wanted one. “If I’d had a box of them to sell,” Peter said, “I think I could have sold at least 100!”
A Week Filled with Conversations and Connection
Across the week-long event Peter estimates he spoke with at least 50 people each day, with many more passing through the display. On busy days—and there were many—those numbers climbed significantly. Over the whole event, several thousand visitors learned about ShelterBox in some way.
There were memorable conversations too. Peter met people who had seen ShelterBox tents in Morocco after the recent earthquake response. At the Sponsors Preview Night, he spoke with more than 50 event supporters, many of whom took brochures. Supporting Peter was new ShelterBox volunteer Jan Lawrence along with Graeme Bethune and Megan Graham who staffed the display across the week and reported a constant stream of interested visitors.
For Rotary members, the display also became a meaningful educational opportunity. Many learned more deeply about ShelterBox’s mission, leading to generous support—including the Rotary Club of Victor Harbor who are long term supporters of ShelterBox.
Motivation, Impact, and Gratitude
For Peter, his reason for being involved is simple: “I’m motivated by the chance to share the magnificent work ShelterBox does for people in times of disaster.”
The Victor Harbor Art Show provides a rare platform—a steady flow of people, genuine curiosity, and the space needed to demonstrate the scale of ShelterBox aid. Each conversation plants a seed of awareness; each demonstration helps someone understand the difference shelter can make.
