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The Channel Seven Telethon Trust is a registered charity with a philosophy that financially supports the medical and social welfare of children and young people and funds research into children’s diseases.
In 1968 the board of Channel 7 Perth made a conscious decision to serve the community and created a continuous 20 hour broadcast to raise money called "Telethon". The first appeal raised $104,829 - a lot of money in 1968.
A charitable trust was registered with an independent group of people dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people throughout Western Australia appointed as Trustees whose role would be to decide on where the funds were distributed each year.
Since those humble beginnings in 1968, Telethon has now raised and distributed over $133 million, providing much needed financial assistance to a significant number of charitable organisations, children’s hospitals and research/medical facilities across Western Australia.
Throughout the year, Channel 7 Perth and The West Australian partner up with many of Perth’s leading organisations, to hold numerous fundraising events and projects. Some of the iconic Telethon events and projects include The Telethon Home, Lexus Telethon Ball, Telethon Mega Bingo, Coles Kids Carnival, The Asics Bridges Fun Run, Mix 94.5’s Grand Mascot Race, the 92.9 Kids Appeal for Telethon, The Italian Club Ball, the West Australian’s Click 2 Bid, Telethon Tuesday’s at Rottnest Island and many more.
Since 2004, the 26 hour continuous broadcast of Telethon has been held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre in the heart of the CIty of Perth. It’s televised on Channel 7 across Perth and on GWN7 throughout the rest of Western Australia (Australia’s largest state).
7 Network personalities from Sunrise, The Morning Show, Dancing With The Stars, Packed To The Rafters, Home & Away, Winners & Loser and My Kitchen Rules along with leading Australian musicians and performers make their way to Perth, donating their time to take part in the weekend. It’s a celebration of the dedication and commitment that thousands of West Australians have in supporting Telethon each year.
Over the years international superstars from the music, television and film industries have also joined in the fun of the Telethon weekend by flying into Perth. We’ve played host to some of the world’s biggest, including; Michael Jackson, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Sammy Davis Jnr, Def Leppard, Harry Connick Jnr, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Hugh Jackman, Julian Lennon and Tina Turner, along with Australia’s best musicians like Jimmy Barnes, Potbelleez, Amy Meredith, Marcia Hines, Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Ian Moss, Kate Ceberano and Justice Crew. |