2014 TELETHON WEEKEND - 25th 26th October 2014 |
Since 1968 Telethon has raised over $150 million.
From humble beginnings with some 500 volunteers including entertainers, technical crew, telephonists, bank tellers and others, the Telethon weekend now relies on the generosity of over 2,500 volunteers. The program is broadcast on Channel Seven in Perth and throughout Western Australia on GWN7.
Telethon has grown so much that it is now held at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre (PCEC) to accommodate an array of activities where the people of Perth can join in the weekend celebrations. From the 30 special telephones in 1968, Telethon is now able to answer over 35,000 calls via 170 individual workstations located at the Sunday Times.
It all began in 1968 when a group of senior executives from Channel 7 Perth established Telethon with a 20 hour non-stop program broadcast from the studios of Channel Seven Perth, which raised $104,829, a huge amount of money back then- for the Children’s Medical Research Foundation based at Princess Margaret Hospital.
It was to become the longest non-stop program presented in WA, and its success was a sign of good things to come.
Who would have imagined the idea would grow to become the most significant television charity appeal in Australia, raising more than $94 million for children’s hospitals, world leading child health research and state of the art medical facilities.
Every year since then, the management and staff of Channel Seven Perth have organised a 25 hour live telecast of entertainment and an appeal to all West Australians to ‘dig deep’ and phone in their donations over a weekend in October or November.
From humble beginnings with some 500 volunteers including entertainers, technical crew, telephonists, bank tellers and others, the Telethon weekend now relies on the generosity of over 2,500 volunteers. The program is telecast on Channel Seven in Perth and throughout Western Australia on the Golden West Network.
Telethon has grown so much that it is now held at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre to accommodate an array of activities where the people of Perth can join in the weekend celebrations. From the 30 special telephones in 1968, Telethon is now able to answer over 35,000 calls via 170 individual workstations located at the Sunday Times.
Providing the entertainment for such a significant event would not be possible without the generous support of international and national artists in the music, television and film industry who offer their talent during the Telethon Weekend. The cream of Australian talent has joined some of the world’s biggest celebrities including: Harry Connick Jnr, Celine Dion, Sammy Davis Jnr, Whitney Houston, Hugh Jackman, Michael Jackson, Julian Lennon, Tina Turner, and Stevie Wonder to provide the entertainment and merriment for which Telethon is famous.
Our own home grown talent of young and not so young entertainers, amateur and professional, come together to make the event the success it is today.
The program is hosted by many Channel Seven Perth presenters and Seven Network personalities from leading national programs.
The National Channel 7 Network personalities and leading Australian musicians and performers make regular appearances and performances during the program. The Weekend is a celebration of the dedication and commitment of thousands of Western Australians who support Telethon each year.
The Telethon Weekend event has grown to become the most significant television charity appeal in Australia; in fact, it is regarded as the most successful fundraising event per capita, in the world.