The Channel Seven Perth Telethon, regionally known simply as Telethon, is an annual telethon established in 1968 by philanthropist Sir James Cruthers and Brian Treasure,About and produced by TVW, a Seven Network-owned television station in Perth, Western Australia. It raises money for over 150 beneficiaries each year including the Perth Children's Hospital, the Telethon Clinical Research Centre and the Telethon Kids Institute.Beneficiaries Channel Seven's Perth Telethon is the highest donating telethon per capita in the world, and since the first Telethon in 1968 has raised over A$750 million in total.
The Channel 7 Telethon Trust is the charitable trust behind the event and its related fundraising activities. The philosophy behind the Channel 7 Telethon Trust is to financially support the medical and social welfare of children and young people and to fund research into children's diseases.
Presenters for Telethon have included: Ryan Daniels Charlotte Goodlet Basil Zempilas Jeff Newman
Overview
The Telethon broadcast usually runs around 26 hours non-stop, starting from 7.00pm on a Saturday night in October, broadcasting live across Western Australia on the Seven Network throughout the metropolitan area of Perth and across the rest of Western Australia; the broadcast was also carried by Seven-affiliate GWN7 in regional Western Australia before the network's dissolution in 2022. As of 2024 Telethon is held at Perth Arena; the event was originally held at TVW's former studios at Dianella, from 2005 to 2019 it was held at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre, and in 2020 and 2021 the opening and closing portions of the broadcast were held at the Crown Theatre at Crown Perth. The event aims to raise money for its beneficiaries from donations from private citizens, organisations, businesses and corporations, as well as from special fundraising events held throughout the year and the public auction of up to two specially built Telethon homes, with one in the metropolitan area of Perth and one in a regional area of Western Australia.
Since its inception in 1968, one or more children currently undergoing treatment at Perth Children's Hospital (and before 2018, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children), or who are supported by Telethon beneficiaries are chosen by Telethon to represent all the children who benefit from the money raised during that year's event. Although one child has been traditionally chosen to be that year's representative, since 2008 two children, one from the metropolitan area and one from a regional area, have been chosen each year, and on occasion more than two children have been featured on Telethon. Since 2010 these children have been referred to as the "Little Telethon Stars", and their stories are highlighted in the lead up to and during the event. The first "Little Telethon Star" was Maryanne Lazerides, who was the youngest person to have open heart surgery at just 11 months old.Looking back at the kids who made Telethon shine Two former "Little Telethon Stars", Louise Sauvage and Ben Popham, have gone on to become gold medal winning Paralympians.Tokyo Paralympics: Former Telethon Kid, WA’s Ben Popham, qualifies fastest for 100m freestyle S8 final
Talent from Seven Network shows such as Home & Away and Sunrise make the journey to the west coast of Australia for the weekend to entertain the audience, visit unwell children at Perth Children's Hospital, take phone calls, and generally participate in the 26-hour marathon broadcast. In addition, Telethon has hosted a number of high profile international guests including Michael Jackson, Phyllis Diller, Carrie Fisher, and the Harlem Globetrotters. A number of Australian guests, such as Hugh Jackman, Chris Hemsworth, Samara Weaving, Ryan Kwanten and Troye Sivan, have also appeared on Telethon before achieving international fame themselves.Telethon 2011Stars from Home and Away visit Radio Lollipop at PMH as part of Telethon. Musical guests are also an integral part of the weekend's entertainment; over the years, notable international performers during Telethon have included Sir Cliff Richard, Harry Connick Jr., Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Julian Lennon, Sammy Davis Jr., Petula Clark and Céline Dion. In more recent years, finalists from talent shows such as Australian Idol, The X Factor, The Voice and Australia's Got Talent have also made appearances during the event, joining lower profile and local acts.
Costumed character Fat Cat from the former children's television show Fat Cat and Friends serves as the mascot for Telethon.Fat Cat & Friends + Appearances, Telethon 7 Perth, archive of 11 Jan 2013 Longtime TVW7 weather presenter Jeff Newman hosted the event for 32 years before retiring in 2009.Mr Telethon Jeff Newman retires He was replaced by Basil Zempilas, who served as the anchoring host of the broadcast from 2010 until he stepped down after 2023 due to his political career. After co-hosting the event in 2024 with Charlotte Goodlet, Ryan Daniels became sole host in 2025.Ryan Daniels: Channel 7 sports presenter steps up to be ‘Mr Telethon’, hosting mega charity fundraiser
A number of figures related to Telethon have been honoured within the Australian Honours - the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). In 1994 Jeff Newman OAM was awarded for services to charity and fundraising through his work with Telethon and the Variety Club of Western Australia. In 2019 Glenn Christie OAM was awarded for his service to the community through support for charitable initiatives, including 3 decades of volunteering to Telethon.Meet Glenn Christie. Mr Christie was also responsible for the lobbing of the naming of Telethon Avenue in Perth. Former "Little Telethon Star" Ben Popham OAM was awarded for his services to sport in 2022.Tokyo 2020 Stars Awarded Australia Day Honours In 1998 Stuart Wagstaff was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to the community, particularly through Telethon by raising funds for charities that support children's medical research. In the 2025 King's Birthday Honours Mr Scott Guerini OAM was also awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia through his Scott's Great Walk and other fundraising efforts in support of Telethon.
History
TVW previously broadcast one-off telethons for bushfire relief in 1961, and to raise funds for Christmas care packages sent to Western Australian soldiers serving in Vietnam in 1966 and 1967.Telethon: How a chat on a golf course led to the creation of Australia’s most successful charity event
Telethon began in 1968 when the Telethon Trust was established by senior executives Sir James Cruthers and Brian Treasure at Channel 7 Perth. It was inspired by the success of the first MDA Labor Day Telethon hosted by Jerry Lewis in the United States in 1966, and the Good Friday Appeal in Melbourne. Cruthers first brought up the idea with then-CEO of Princess Margaret Hospital, James Clarkson during a round of golf at Lake Karrinyup Country Club, who suggested that the focus should be on facilitating medical research.Over 200 million reasons to be grateful for golf - the birth of Telethon
Although all of the station staff agreed to volunteer their time to host the event, the first Perth Telethon has been described as chaotic: the station was open to the public for the first time resulting in hours-long queues of people wanting to get in, there were no computers so pledges and receipts were written out by hand, and anyone who pledged more than $2,000 ($25,377 in 2020) received a follow-up phone call to ensure it was not a hoax. The event was also inadvertently underbooked of talent, with one musical act persuaded to stay on from 2:30am until 6am when the next act would arrive. However the event raised more than anticipated, netting $104,829 ($1,330,125 in 2020) in donations. The first Telethon also featured an infamous segment where guests Stuart Wagstaff, Johnny O'Keefe, Bobby Limb and Graham Kennedy, who were shirtless at the time as part of a dare, had to scramble to find their clothing before then-Premier of Western Australia David Brand made an appearance at the station. Wagstaff would become closely associated with Telethon, with the entertainer returning for 35 subsequent Telethons, making his last appearance via video in 2009.Stuart Wagstaff charmed Australian TV worldStuart Wagstaff remembered as WA's Mr Telethon
For the first Telethon, the general public, especially children, were encouraged to collect 5c pieces in a special card with indents to hold the coins. When the card was complete ($1 value) the children could drop them in at the TV studios and meet presenter Trina Brown.
Michael Jackson appeared on the October 1985 Telethon as part of a deal with Western Australian millionaire Robert Holmes à Court (who owned the television station at the time) to acquire ATV Music Publishing.Perth's love affair with Michael Jackson Jackson could not perform due to contractual reasons, but he spoke briefly and met the two "Little Telethon Stars".
2007 marked 40 years since Telethon began in Western Australia and raised more than $6.5 million. This was more than double the previous record amount of $3 million.$6.5 million Telethon total smashes records Telethon 2008 raised a further $7.5 million, with the Australian Federal Government contributing $1.5 million, and a lottery winner donating $1 million of her winnings to the cause.Channel 7 Telethon breaks last year's record The 2008 event also featured an Australian rules football match between former West Coast Eagles players and former Fremantle Dockers players in tribute to Chris Mainwaring, a former West Coast Eagles player and Seven News sports presenter who had died the previous year.Chris Mainwaring tribute match a success The match continued to be held until 2012.History
In 2010, Telethon broke its record set in 2008, raising $9,237,539. This figure was later revised to $10 million as the phones kept ringing after the Telethon finished. In addition, 2010 marked the year in which the total amount collected over the previous 43 years surpassed the $100 million milestone.Telethon 2010 raises more than $9 million for sick WA children This Telethon was touted by Seven Network owner Kerry Stokes as being "the best Telethon ever". In 2011, Telethon once again broke the previous record by raising $13,473,159. In 2012, Telethon broke several records, with the metropolitan Telethon Home selling for a record $1.2 million at the auction. In addition, the final total broke the $15 million milestone, raising a record $16,805,622. The telecast featured a live performance via video from Elton John who was performing at the gala opening of Perth Arena. In 2013, Telethon again broke the record, raising $20.7 million. The records continued to be broken in 2014, with a total of $25,271,542, due partly to a $20m five-year commitment by BHP.
In 2015, $25.8 million was raised by the event. That same year also saw Telethon Avenue, a street in the Kings Square precinct of the Perth City Link project, named in recognition of the organisation. The name was initially rejected by the WA's Landgate Geographic Names Committee, with then Premier Colin Barnett believing it was "inappropriate" to name a street after a commercial organisation; however the decision was reversed following extensive lobbying by prominent local volunteer Glenn Christie OAM and the intervention of then Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.Sunrise: Telethon AveSign a mark of charity’s success The event in 2016 saw $26,290,154 as the final total, which took Telethon's total raised over 49 years to $231,886,120.