"I heard the hospice was cash-strapped and wanted to do something to help," she said.
The idea came to her after she saw fashion shows on planes, and thought one could work on a train.
"It needed to be something big and Dunedin is a big fashion city."
She received a lot of support from businesses, who jumped at the chance to help her.
"If it wasn't for the fact that everyone was so giving, it wouldn't have worked."
Designers from Dunedin's Fashion Incubator donated their garments for the show, models were supplied by Ali McD modelling agent, hair was done by Scott Base, while Lainie Scott took care of the makeup.
The show was put together in three and a-half weeks and was attended by 190 people.
Because of the enthusiastic response, it would become an annual event, she said.
"I have a great deal of empathy for the sick and dying," she said, and that prompted her to help the hospice.
"The hospice needs people like us . . . They are not funded as they should be."
She encouraged other people to do their bit to help and saw the Otago Daily Times "Help the Hospice" campaign as a great motivator because the hospice "needs everything it can get".
The campaign, which aims to raise more than $200,000 from Otago businesses for the hospice, is into its second week.
"Anyone can do it - have an idea and run with it. I'm just a schoolteacher . . . I know nothing about fashion or trains."
