Adelaide telethon raises $2.2m

The first telethon in South Australia since 1989 has raised $2,233,690.50 for charity.

Nine’s inaugural Team Kids Easter Appeal for the Women’s and Children’s Hospital aired yesterday across six and a half hours on Channel Nine Adelaide, WIN Network and Southern Cross Austereo Network in South Australia.

Sean O’Brien, Managing Director of the Nine Network in Adelaide said: “Today’s result has blown us away.

“Nine Adelaide prides itself on being local and we continue to find ways to support the local community.

“This money will change the lives of children and their families across our state.

“Thank you to all of the sponsors, and a big thank you to the Channel Nine team for their tireless commitment to the project.”

The day started with the Today Show broadcasting live from Adelaide. Lisa Wilkinson, Ross Greenwood, Richard Wilkins, Sylvia Jeffreys and Tim Gilbert hosting live from the historic Kevin Crease Studio and Steve Jacobs was at Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

At 10:30am, the Appeal went live across the state. Lisa and Ross were first up. Richard and Sylvia followed, with Brenton Ragless and Kate Collins finishing off the day.

Matt Gilbertson from The Advertiser and The Sunday Mail presented live from the Hilton Adelaide Green Room and the Channel 9 Courtyard was hosted by Warren Tredrea and Kym Dillon.

Throughout the day, Will McDonald, Virginia Langeberg and Keith Conlon rallied the army of 240 volunteers at Telstra’s Adelaide Contact Centre, listening to calls coming in thick and fast as SA supported the appeal without hesitation.

One of the biggest undertakings of the day was the renovation of The Boylan Ward at the hospital by The Block Triple Threat couples Josh & Charlotte, Jess & Ayden, Tim & Anastasia and Block favourites Phil Rankine and Amity Dry. Over nine hours, three common areas of the youth mental health ward were successfully transformed.

The live studio audience and viewers were treated to performances by Justice Crew, Eddie Perfect, Le Noir, The Boomstars, Tim Campbell, Raymond Crowe, Rhonda Burchmore, The Germein Sisters, Anthony Callea, Willsy, Bob Downe and Tim Omaji.

The Celebrity phone hub was manned by 30 different celebrities including Poh Ling Yeow, Renae Hallinan, Maddy Proud, Leigh Waddington, Kayla Itsines, Anthony Callea, Keith Conlon, Mark Davis, Monika Clarke, Jane Reilly, Carly Schulz, Leighton Brown, Anne Wills, Jeremy Cordeaux, Eddie

Perfect, Lauren Phillips, Michala Banas, Tim Omaji, Jason Carter, Ed Lower, Rhonda Burchmore, Nigel Boogaard, Eugene Galekovic, George Kapiniaris, Peter Goers, Daniel Talia, Travis Boak, Matthew Lobbe and Tim Campbell.

The Team Kids Easter Appeal will return to Nine Adelaide in 2016.