More than 100 of the 850 paintings were sold during the exhibition, co-sponsored by The Mail, at Peninsula Community Theatre in Mornington, which began on the Friday before Australia Day and ended on Sunday.

The exhibition also attracted more viewers than 2009, with many buying raffle tickets for a chance to win gold service tickets for two on The Ghan train from Adelaide to Darwin valued at $4000.

The raffle was won by Ian Barker of Clifton Beach, Queensland, with the second prize of two tickets to the Australian Opera Company's production of Tosca at the Melbourne Arts Centre going to N McGrau of Mornington. Money raised from the art show is spent on Rotary projects, such as sending medical teams overseas and helping the underprivileged.