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Established in 1968, generations of West Australians have grown up with Telethon and through their generosity have had a major impact on some of the life threatening diseases that face our children.
Funds raised through Telethon have supported medical research into childhood diseases, provided equipment, critical services and life-changing opportunities for sick, vulnerable and disadvantaged children. Donations to the Channel 7 Telethon Trust are tax deductible and ensure that together, we can continue to provide our children with the best quality care and support now and in the future.
The Channel 7 Telethon Trust is a registered charity, governed by a Board of Trustees. Telethon has a small team that operates all year round and is based at Newspaper House in Osborne Park, Perth. Telethon exists on a day to day basis because of the generosity of Seven West Media including Channel Seven Perth, The West Australian, The Sunday Times and Perthnow. All providing the Trust with tangible and intangible support through infrastructure, facilities, service and professional advice.
Our Patrons
His Excellency The Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM Governor of Western Australia and Mrs Darrilyn Dawson
His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM was sworn in as the 34th Governor of Western Australia on 15 July 2022.
Descending from five generations of early colonial settlers, the Dawson family has a rich history in farming and law enforcement. After joining the Western Australia Police Force in 1976, the Governor served for 46 years in Australian law enforcement in both metropolitan and regional positions.
His Excellency received the Australian Police Medal in 2002, and led the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission from 2014 to 2017. As Commissioner of the Western Australia Police Force, he coordinated the Covid-19 pandemic response and vaccination program.
The Governor is married to Mrs Darrilyn Dawson, an Education Consultant with over 40 years’ experience in education.
Mrs Dawson has served on several government school Boards and is a Board and Committee member of two independent colleges. She is passionate about early intervention at every opportunity.
The Governor and Mrs Dawson work together as joint patrons of many important community-focused, and volunteer-led organisations.
Mrs Dawson and the Governor enjoy spending time with their two married children and their spouses, and five delightful grandchildren.
Professor Fiona Stanley AC
Named Australian of the Year in 2003, Professor Fiona Stanley is a vocal advocate for the needs of children and their families.
Professor Stanley is trained in maternal and child health epidemiology and public health and has spent her career researching the causes of major childhood illnesses such as birth defects. She is the founding director of the Telethon Kids Institute, established in Perth in 1990. When she retired over two decades later, the Institute had grown to more than 500 staff and students and forged an international reputation for its translational research in a range of areas.
On her retirement, Professor Stanley took on the position of patron, where she continues to advocate for the Institute, research and families.
Professor Stanley remains a chief investigator on research grants at the Telethon Kids Institute and is a valued mentor to many. She also continues her strong association with the University of Western Australia as a distinguished research professor in the School of Paediatrics and Child Health.
Professor Stanley has been honoured as a “National Living Treasure” by the National Trust. She is the UNICEF Australia Ambassador for Early Childhood Development.
Our Trustees
The Channel 7 Telethon Trust operates separately from Channel Seven Perth and is governed by a Board of Trustees. The trust meets on a regular basis and decide on funds being distributed to charitable organisations annually.
Richard Goyder AO Chairman
Richard is the former chief executive and managing director of Wesfarmers, one of Australia’s top-10 companies. He is the current chairman of the Australian Football League, the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Qantas Airways and Woodside Energy. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to business, the arts and indigenous programs and was named 2021 West Australian of the Year for his commitment to community and philanthropy.
Kerry Stokes AC Trustee
Kerry is chairman of the Seven Network and Australian Capital Equity, which has interests in media and entertainment, resources, energy, property, pastoral and mining. Along with many awards, Kerry has received Australia’s highest honour, the Companion of the Order of Australia, in recognition of his contributions to business and philanthropy.
Bill Beament Trustee
Bill is a mining engineer with more than 25 years experience in the resource sector and is Managing Director at Develop. He is a past chairman of the Western Australian School of Mines Alumni Patrons Group and former Executive Chair of Northern Star. He has been named CEO of the Year by the Australian Financial Review and Pinnacle Awards’ Business Leader of the Year (WA).
Maryna Fewster Trustee
Maryna Fewster is the Chief Executive of Seven West Media WA and had previously been the company's Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining Seven West Media, she was Chief Operating Officer of iiNet and held senior executive roles in the Telecommunications sector in Australia and New Zealand for over two decades. Maryna is a Non-Executive Director of Crown Resorts Perth and Celebrate WA.
Tonya McCusker AM Trustee
Tonya is a director and administrator of the McCusker Charitable Foundation, working closely with more than 100 charities. She is also an advisory board member of the McCusker Centre for Citizenship and patron of a number of other organisations. Tonya has a law degree, a postgraduate diploma in management and was a former dancer with the Australian Ballet Company. She is married to former governor of Western Australia, Malcolm McCusker AC, and has three children.
Tim Roberts Trustee
Tim is the managing director of the Warburton Group, which oversees a diverse portfolio of investments in property, infrastructure, aquaculture, aviation, agriculture, and healthcare. Formerly an executive director of construction company Multiplex, Tim is also the operator of the Perth Jet Centre, a non-executive director of mining company Mineral Resources, a board member for Crown Resorts Perth and patron of the Perth Symphony Orchestra.
Christine Simpson Stokes AM Trustee
Christine has extensive experience in business management and media, is a philanthropist and supporter of the arts. She is a director of Australian Capital Equity and an ambassador for Legacy Australia. A former TV news presenter, Christine is also a board member of the government’s funding and advisory body Creative Australia.
Nick Stagg Trustee
Nick is a co-founder and legal practice director of Perth boutique law firm Steedman Stagg Lawyers, where he works in commercial litigation and dispute resolution. He has almost 25 years’ experience managing large-scale legal affairs for media organisations, mining companies, statutory corporations, politicians, company directors, business people and individuals . A former journalist with The West Australian, he specialises in defamation, freedom of information and publication laws.
Guy Houston Trustee
Guy is a very experienced former journalist and public sector professional who currently works as an advisor at Australian Capital Equity. Prior to his current role, Guy was Chief of Staff to Mark McGowan for nine years, including the last four while in government. With a background in journalism, corporate communications in the resource sector and having also advised previous Premiers Geoff Gallop and Alan Carpenter, Guy brings a wealth of experience, insights and connections across the private and public sectors in WA and Australia.
Christopher Dore Trustee
Christopher is the Editor-in-Chief of the West Australian Newspapers and The Nightly. He is a media executive with more than three decades of experience in digital and print publishing having worked across the country in senior newsroom and leadership roles, including Editor-in-Chief of The Australian, Editor of The Daily Telegraph in Sydney and The Courier-Mail in Brisbane.
Shane O’Connor Honorary Treasurer
Shane is the chief financial officer at Seven West Media WA, overseeing the finances of Australia’s largest integrated media company.
Formerly a finance director with Vocus Communications and associate director with Macquarie Bank and KPMG, Shane has over two decades of experience in managing large teams, executive reporting, business improvement, tax and technology.
Team Telethon
Contact the team
To get in contact, call (08) 9482 3974 or email telethonoffice@telethon7.com
The History of Telethon
Originally the marathon TV event was broadcast over a weekend in October from the original Channel 7 studios in Tuart Hill, Perth on an estate that is now called “Seven Hills”. In 2004, the 26-hour continuous broadcast of Telethon moved to a new home at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre in the heart of the City of Perth, so that more people could access the live TV show as it went to air.
Holding the event at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre enabled Telethon to bring the fun and excitement to Perth families by providing a venue for the television broadcast, with space for an audience of 2,300 people at any one time. Attendees could also experience the Beneficiaries Expo which gave the Telethon beneficiaries an opportunity to showcase what they do and who they are.
Fast forward to 2024, Telethon has a new home broadcasting live from RAC Arena, and the reimagined Telethon Family Festival lights up the streets of Perth by taking over Wellington Street from Elder Street to Yagan Square attracting thousands of people across the Telethon Weekend.
Read more
Lost Telethon
Lost Telethon is a Facebook page created for the people of Western Australia to relive some of the magical memories of Telethon. Many international celebrities have joined Telethon over the years, including; Michael Jackson, Sir Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Sammy Davis Jnr, Def Leppard, Harry Connick Jnr, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Bea Arthur, Phyllis Diller, Hugh Jackman, Julian Lennon, Tina Turner, Carrie Fisher, Cliff Richard and Petula Clark.
Check out some of the legends who have visited Perth and love the magic of what Telethon is within the Western Australian community.
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