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$25,271,542 breaks Telethon record

The people of Western Australia break records at Seven's marathon 2014 Telethon.

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2014-10-27_0031The people of Western Australia have again opened up their hearts -and wallets- to raise a staggering $25,271,542 across a two-day Seven Telethon.

The amount tops last year’s $20.7 million raised for the sick kids of WA.

The Live event at PCEC (Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre) drew upon a cavalcade of Seven stars plus music, sport and local identities, supported by a small army of over 300 TV production crew at work; more than 200 lights; 60 plus microphones; 55 hair and make-up artists; more than 600 entertainers; 100 Virgin Australia flights and more than 1,000 volunteers.

PM Tony Abbott committed a Federal Government donation of $1 million while Premier Colin Barnett handed over a cheque for $500,000 from the State Government. Big donors included Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation ($1 million), Perth businessman Tim Roberts ($1.5 million), Malcolm, Tonya and Carolyn McCusker from the McCusker Charitable Foundation ($1.5 million).

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Even Nine News Perth’s Tim McMillan and Libby Stone presented a $100,000 cheque to Seven’s Susannah Carr and Rick Ardon.

Nine Perth’s Managing Director, David Mott “Today, we’re delighted to be able to continue that tradition with a $100,000 donation to support these very special research projects.

“This donation will help to improve the lives of many young Western Australians who will benefit from the medical research.”

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Telethon CEO, Steve Mummery was ecstatic again with the result from the weekend.

“In this tough economic climate, Western Australians continue to get behind Telethon. There are now grand parents who grew up giving their pocket money to Telethon who now have grand children doing the same.

“Western Australians should be very proud of themselves as this Telethon continues to be the highest fundraising Telethon (per capita) in the world” he said.

15 Responses

  2. @JamesJ – we’re both wrong. We’re confusing it with Perth Arena (which was demolished in 2011). The PCEC is that huge ugly grey (sorry, “iconic”) shed betw Mounts Bay Rd, the river, and the freeway.

    Still, that really only lends weight to my suggestion that people are probably confusing the name with the old Perth Entertainment Centre, even if only at a sub-conscious level.

  3. Meant to say too! It was great that they bought back the “Thank You Very Much For Your Kind Donation” at the end of Telethon! Nice moment of nostalgia for those of us who have watched it for years! Used to love the conga lines around the studios of TVW.

    My parents used to work at Channel 7 and I was lucky enough as a kid in the 80’s to meet lots of the telethon stars! Never forget the excitement the year I met A Country Practice Stars Cookie & Esme, then also got to meet Fat Cat..

  4. @JamesJ Absolutely right! Perth Arena was built on the site opposite the old Perth Entertainment Centre, which was a car park, PEC was demolished in 2011.. located right near the Wellington St Bus Station (Also now gone).. Nowhere near PCEC!

    Not detracting from the main story however! Well done WA and Telethon!!

  6. For those on the east coast interested in what the fuss is all about, there are plenty of acts posted on Telethon’s YouTube account youtube.com/user/Telethon1968

  7. Sorry here is direct link to their site pcec.com.au definitely an exhibition centre. Shame the stations don’t even know where they are appearing from 😉

  8. Congratulations WA. Personally I would like to see the tally separated by corporate and individual donations next year. I think this would help reemphasise the people power and “digging deep”.

  9. Amazing result. Well done to everyone who volunteers their time.

    During the 26 hours there are little clips on where the money goes, which is really interesting.

    I didn’t see it until it was too late, but they do stream Telethon online.

  10. Well done us. Not bad for a state 2.5 million people.

    I think that the confusion regarding the name of the Centre arises from the fact that it was built on the site of the previous Perth Entertainment Centre.

  13. “raised for the sick kids of WA.”

    So how much of the $25m is paid to sick kids? And its tax deductable so a lot of it comes from taxpayers.

    Most it will be spent on the salaries, rent and expenses of researchers, medical staff and social workers and the admin of the foundation. What services that has and will provide they are rather vague about.

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