Organisers of the first annual Longerenong Strippers and Seeders Ball, at the Wimmera Machinery Field Days site, believe the event raised between $20,000 and $30,000 for the community.

All roads led to Longerenong for utes from across the country, with every state of Australia represented by ball-goers.

The fun-loving crowd partied hard but in the right spirit, dancing to bands Severed and Bourbon Legends, and making new friends along the way.

White shirt, black pants and hats were the staple attire for the boys but the girls added a sprinkle of colour to the ball with op shop frocks and themes of the Olympics, school girls and fairies. All wearing boots, of course.

Most people stayed in the carpark, full of utes and littered with swags, and backed up again on Sunday morning for a recovery session.

Apex Horsham president Brendan Khan said the ball was such a success, with 1009 tickets sold, that organisers had already set the date of August 15 for 2009.

"It was a massive event and there was no trouble," he said.

"Everything went fantastic and it was a great crowd."

Mr Khan said a convoy of seven utes drove across the Nullarbor Plain for the ball.

"They took two weeks off work to get over here. We had people from Tasmania, we sold seven tickets to Queenslanders, and one person came from Darwin," he said.

Mr Khan said feedback from ball-goers was positive.

"All reports have been really good," he said.

"We won't know exactly how much was raised until next week, when all the bills come in, but I'd expect it to be in the vicinity of $20,000 to $30,000.

"Some of the money will go to Longerenong College scholarships, and some will go to the community."

Mr Khan said more than 40 volunteers, Apex members, their family and friends, helped out on the night.

"We'd also like to thank Dooen Hotel, Heinrich Merchandise, RA Transport, 3WM and the Mail-Times for their support," he said.

•More pictures from the Strippers and Seeders Ball appear on page 30 today.