Channel Seven Perth Telethon
| Company type | Non-profit organisation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Charity fundraiser, Television broadcasting |
| Founded | 1968 |
| Founder | Sir James Cruthers, Brian Treasure |
| Headquarters | Perth , Australia |
Area served | Western Australia |
Key people | Ryan Daniels, Charlotte Goodlet, Basil Zempilas, Jeff Newman (former host) |
| Products | Charitable fundraising events, Telethon Home auctions |
| Owner | Seven Network (via TVW) |
| Website | 7perth |
The Channel Seven Perth Telethon, commonly referred to simply as Telethon within the region, is an annual charitable fundraiser initiated in 1968 by philanthropists Sir James Cruthers and Brian Treasure. This event is produced by TVW, a station operating under the Seven Network umbrella in Perth, Western Australia. Each year, it benefits more than 150 organisations, including the Perth Children's Hospital, the Telethon Clinical Research Centre, and the Telethon Kids Institute.
Recognised as the world's highest per capita telethon fundraiser, Channel Seven's Perth Telethon has accumulated over A$688 million since it began. Oversight of the event is provided by the Channel 7 Telethon Trust, which allocates funds primarily toward medical research and social welfare initiatives targeting children and youth.
Prominent hosts over the years have included:
Overview
The Telethon broadcast spans roughly 26 hours nonstop, commencing at 7:00 pm on a Saturday night in October. It is transmitted live throughout Western Australia via the Seven Network in Perth and across the state; until 2022, it was also broadcast on Seven affiliate GWN7 serving regional WA. As of 2024, the event takes place at Perth Arena. Previously, it was held at TVW’s Dianella studios, then moved to the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre from 2005 through 2019, and later to the Crown Theatre at Crown Perth during 2020 and 2021. Fundraising efforts include donations from individuals, businesses, organisations, special events, and public auctions of up to two custom-built Telethon homes located in metropolitan Perth and regional areas of Western Australia.
Since its inception in 1968, children receiving treatment at Perth Children's Hospital or supported by Telethon-funded organisations have been central to the campaign. Starting in 2008, two children—one from metropolitan areas and one from regional communities—are annually selected as "Little Telethon Stars," whose stories are showcased throughout the broadcast. Noteworthy past representatives include Paralympians Louise Sauvage and Ben Popham.
Cast members from Seven Network programs such as Home & Away and Sunrise contribute by entertaining viewers, visiting patients, and answering calls during the marathon telecast. The event has welcomed international celebrities like Michael Jackson, Carrie Fisher, and the Harlem Globetrotters, alongside Australian talents including Hugh Jackman, Chris Hemsworth, and Troye Sivan. Musical acts have featured world-renowned performers such as Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, and Céline Dion, as well as finalists from talent competitions including Australian Idol, The X Factor, The Voice, and Australia's Got Talent.
The mascot representing Telethon is Fat Cat from the former children’s television show Fat Cat and Friends. Jeff Newman served as a long-standing host for 32 years until 2009; he was followed by Basil Zempilas who led the broadcast until his resignation in 2023 due to commitments in his political career.
Several individuals connected with Telethon have been honoured with Australian awards. Jeff Newman OAM received recognition in 1994 for his charitable contributions through Telethon. Glenn Christie OAM was acknowledged in 2019 after volunteering for three decades. Ben Popham OAM earned honours in 2022 for his achievements in sport. Stuart Wagstaff was appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1998 for his community service linked to Telethon fundraising. In 2025, Scott Guerini OAM was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his fundraising initiatives supporting Telethon via Scott's Great Walk.
History
Prior to establishing the annual event, TVW aired occasional telethons, including one for the 1961 bushfire relief and others in 1966 and 1967 to support Christmas care packages for Western Australian troops serving in Vietnam.
The Telethon Trust was founded in 1968 at Channel 7 Perth by senior executives Sir James Cruthers and Brian Treasure, marking the beginning of the Telethon. The concept drew inspiration from the success of the first MDA Labor Day Telethon in the United States and Melbourne’s Good Friday Appeal. Cruthers sought advice from James Clarkson, then CEO of Princess Margaret Hospital, who suggested concentrating efforts on medical research.
The first Perth Telethon encountered numerous operational difficulties: unrestricted studio access caused long waiting lines, pledges were recorded manually, and verification calls were necessary for substantial donations. The entertainment lineup was sparse, with one performer continuing until dawn. Nevertheless, the event raised $104,829 (equivalent to $1.33 million in 2020). Entertainer Stuart Wagstaff became a prominent figure associated with Telethon, participating in 35 subsequent events.
At the outset, public involvement—particularly from children—included collecting 5-cent coins on designated cards to contribute at studio locations.
In October 1985, Michael Jackson appeared on Telethon through an arrangement involving Western Australian billionaire Robert Holmes à Court, who owned the station. Although contractual terms prohibited a live performance, Jackson made a brief speech and met with two "Little Telethon Stars."
By 2007, celebrating its 40th anniversary, Telethon raised over $6.5 million—more than doubling its previous record—with $7.5 million collected in 2008. This included a $1.5 million federal government grant and a $1 million donation from a lottery winner. That year also featured an Australian rules football match honoring Chris Mainwaring, an annual tribute held until 2012.
Telethon’s fundraising achievements continued to grow: $10 million was raised in 2010, pushing total funds beyond $100 million; $13.47 million followed in 2011; and a record-breaking $16.8 million was secured in 2012, which included a $1.2 million auction of the metropolitan Telethon Home. During Perth Arena’s opening gala that year, Elton John contributed via video message. Fundraising records were again set in 2013 and 2014 with totals of $20.7 million and $25.27 million respectively, supported by a five-year $20 million pledge from BHP.
In 2015, donations reached $25.8 million; that same year, after persistent advocacy despite initial rejection by WA’s Geographic Names Committee, Telethon Avenue was named within Perth City Link.
The following year, fundraising climbed to $26.29 million, bringing cumulative donations over nearly five decades to almost $232 million.
For its golden jubilee in 2017, Telethon achieved a record haul of $36.4 million; in 2018 it surpassed $38 million thanks to a last-minute $2 million contribution from Seven West Media, pushing total funds beyond the $300 million milestone.
The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated format alterations in 2020: instead of the usual 26-hour continuous broadcast, two three-hour primetime specials were produced from Crown Theatre with a focus on Western Australian performers due to travel restrictions. After easing of limitations, the inaugural Telethon Family Festival took place at Perth Stadium as a community gathering. Despite these challenges, a new record of $46.33 million was raised.
In 2021, Telethon reverted to its traditional continuous broadcast style with live segments at Crown Theatre and Perth Stadium but maintained emphasis on local talent amid ongoing constraints. The event set another record by raising $62.1 million—exceeding both the annual target of $50 million and cumulative donations above $400 million—with major contributions from both Western Australian ($10 million) and Australian ($5 million) governments.
The broadcast moved to Perth Arena in 2022 while expanding the Family Festival into central city areas by 2023. That year saw fundraising reach an unprecedented $71.36 million and total contributions surpass half a billion dollars.
In 2023, funds raised hit $77.47 million including a state government donation of $12 million; overall donations exceeded $600 million.
Telethon 2024 broke previous records once more with $83.26 million raised alongside a state government grant of $13 million, pushing cumulative donations beyond the $650 million mark.
Annual summaries
1983 1984 … [table continues with consistent formatting and minimal spacing] … 2024 | $83,264,216 | $1,175,000 | — | Nazeem Fahmi, Nate Fearnall, Charlee Hosking & Florence Shanks | Guy Sebastian, Samantha Jade, Vanessa Amorosi, Human Nature 2025 | $TBA | $TBA | — | TBA | Emma Watkins, Shannon Noll| Year | Amount Raised (AUD) | Telethon Home Auction (AUD) | Little Telethon Stars | Distinguished Guests | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan | Regional | |||||
| 1968 | $104,829 | — | — | Maryanne Lazerides | Stuart Wagstaff, Graham Kennedy, Johnny O'Keefe | |
| 1969 | $147,000 | — | — | — | ||
| 1970 | $166,000 | — | — | — | ||
| 1971 | $177,587 | — | — | Beth Crispin | ||
| 1972 | $210,792 | $17,500 | — | Amanda Rose | ||
| 1973 | $335,503 | $24,750 | — | Lisa Tucker & Karen Green | ||
| 1974 | $530,710 | — | — | The cast of Number 96 | ||
| 1975 | $586,700 | $9,350 | — | Gavin O'Farrell | ||
| 1976 | $721,624 | — | — | Louise Sauvage | ||
| 1977 | $905,000 | — | — | — | ||
| 1978 | $887,376 | — | — | — | ||
| 1979 | $909,327 | — | — | Blanche Mathiot | ||
| 1980 | $1,071,503 | — | — | — | ||
| 1981 | $1,338,002 | — | — | Brooke Arbery (deceased 2019) | ||
| 1982 | $1,601,387 | — | — | Cassandra Hughes | Julie Anthony | |
| " $1,711,456" | " $97,000" | "—" | "Tara Dalla Costa" | "Sammy Davis, Jr., Jackie Trent, Tony Hatch, Normie Rowe" | ||
| " $2,143,000" | " $120,000" | "—" | "Peta Mears" | "Cliff Richard, Gene Pitney" | ||
External links
- Articles with short description
- Culture in Perth, Western Australia
- Non-profit organisations based in Western Australia
- Seven Network
- Australian telethons
- Charities based in Australia
- Television shows set in Perth, Western Australia
- Recurring events established in 1968
- Organised events in Perth, Western Australia
- 1968 establishments in Australia