Think Telethon can’t get any bigger? Think again.
Now in its 59th year, WA’s iconic fundraising event kicked off in spectacular style, and for the first time, the rest of the country is seeing the magic of Telethon as it was beamed on Channel 7 across Australia.
And what an opening show it was, with pop powerhouse Jessica Mauboy and Human Nature co-founder Phil Burton setting the tone for the weekend, bursting onto the stage with a rendition of Australian classic Good Times.
Country singing star Morgan Evans made his Telethon debut and was met with rapturous applause from the packed RAC Arena as he performed during the opening act.
But the real VIPs are this year’s Little Telethon Stars, nine-year-old Aiden Narsico, seven-year-old Olivia Street and Paige McKay, eight.
And fittingly they were the first to take to the couch as the phone lines opened, regaling viewers with their action-packed few months as the Telethon stars.
And they set a huge donation target for the next 26 hours.
“Our goal is to reach $100 million,” Aiden declared.
It’s an ambitious target, but it got off to a flying start as Minderoo Foundation’s Nicola and Andrew Forrest pledged to match every donation made over a one-hour period.
Telethon has raised an astonishing $778 million for sick West Australian kids across the last six decades.
Last year alone, a record $90,160,275 was raised for life-changing medical research, vital health services and support for children living with illness, disability and disadvantage across WA.
Moments earlier, the pure joy that Telethon creates for its little Stars was evident on their faces as Aiden, Olivia and Paige danced to the opening act backstage.
Aiden launched into Fat Cat’s arms before dancing with the Telethon icon hand-in-hand, while Paige pulled her mum Amy McKay up from her chair and spun her around.
“It’s so much fun,” Paige said, listing meeting and having a photo alongside Emma Memma as her highlight so far.
Aiden was born prematurely at 31 weeks and almost died in his mum’s arms when he was just days old before spending the first 14 months of his life in hospital where doctors diagnosed him with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome.
Olivia lives with collagen VI-related myopathy, a rare genetic condition which impacts every muscle in her body, and Paige was diagnosed with a tumour in her brain stem when she was just five years old.
Opening the broadcast, Telethon host and 7NEWS Perth sports director Ryan Daniels described Telethon as the best weekend of the year. Weekend Sunrise host Sally Bowrey said: “We have one goal, that is to make this the best, the biggest Telethon of all.”
Australian Idol star Gisella Colletti was among the stars opening Saturday night’s show with a stunning rendition with John Farnham’s The Voice.
“It was such an honour to sing such a huge song, and I hope I did it justice,” she said afterwards.
“I’m so excited to be raising money for this amazing cause. It’s going to be a big, big one this year.”
She said her favourite part about Telethon was meeting the Little Telethon Stars.
“I just love spending time with them, talking to them and their parents about their experiences. They’re little soldiers,” she said.
Among the audience members were self-proclaimed “super fan” Phoebe Butler, who has been coming to Telethon for the past five years with her family.
Wearing a Telethon hoodie, shirt and socks, Ms Butler was planning to stay for the entire 26-hour broadcast — a tradition she and her family started about three years ago.
“We’re going to be here the whole time, we won’t be going home, we’ll stay all weekend … we’re a bit like zombies by the time we leave,” she said.
“We slept for about 10 minutes last time, but other than that, we’re awake the whole time.”
The stellar celebrity line-up across the weekend includes singer Natalie Bassingthwaite, who will perform with reunited electro-rock band Rogue Traders, and The Voice Australia host Kate Miller-Heidke.
Returning Telethon favourite Shane Crawford will join fellow AFL greats in the phone room, at live-stage challenges and at the Telethon Family Festival.
Household favourites from Home and Away, Better Homes and Gardens, Sunrise, The Morning Show and The Chase will also be manning the phones and joining the madness.
The action continues today, with thousands of people expected at the Telethon Family Festival, a free community celebration which stretches from RAC Arena to Yagan Square.
The Lotterywest Kids Carnival, opposite RAC Arena, is expected to draw huge crowds, offering up free carnival rides, sideshow games and classic show bags without parents having to break the bank. Nearby Yagan Square will be transformed into a family fun zone featuring free face-painting, glitter stations, food trucks, roving entertainers and a magical live mermaid show.
Appearing at their first Telethon, The Wiggles’ popular Tsehay Hawkins and Lucia Field will be available to meet fans alongside their predecessor Emma Memma.
Telethon stalwarts the Build Now Foundation will return, taking on another epic against-the-clock construction challenge outside the RAC Arena. The charity is seeking to construct 10 custom wheelchair-accessible garden beds and sandpits for local children living with severe mobility difficulties.
The 26-hour live broadcast will air across Channel 7, 7plus and nationally on 7flix.