Telethon kicks off with Ronan Keating headlining opening show and Deputy PM lauding beloved event at gala ball

This year’s Telethon began last night in spectacular style, with multimillion-dollar donations getting the efforts to break last year’s record to a sterling start.

The CBD came alive as thousands queued to get into RAC Arena for the opening show of the flagship 26-hour entertainment marathon, broadcast live on Channel 7 in WA and nationally on 7flix and 7plus.

Meanwhile, Perth’s A-listers glittered at Crown for the black-tie Telethon Gala Ball, where Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles — who revealed the Federal Government would donate $6 million to Telethon this year — stepped in for Anthony Albanese who is overseas.

Rio Tinto also donated $5.5 million, while other big donors last night included gold miner Northern Star and grocery giant Woolworths.

Accompanied for his first Telethon by his wife, Rachel Schutze, Mr Marles said the couple knew all too well parental anguish at seeing a child unwell, which had given them a deep appreciation for the world’s biggest fundraiser.

“For parents of very sick kids who need acute care, there is nothing more frightening, nothing more all-consuming,” he told the full-house event.

“This is, without doubt, the darkest time in their lives.

“In this moment, the treatment, the care, the help that is provided by children’s hospitals is utterly transformational, is literally a godsend.

“So, for the thousands of kids and parents whose lives have been saved and changed so much for the better because of your generosity, I know there is a heartfelt sense of gratitude for all that you have done.

“This Telethon really matters.”

Mr Marles opened his remarks with a cheeky swipe at the west, because the State “stole Ben Cousins” from his home of Geelong.

He also reiterated the importance of WA and its capital, divulging that Mr Albanese had made clear his attendance at Telethon “was absolutely not negotiable”.

“It’s clear to me that what’s good for Perth is good for the nation, and there’s no better example of that than this Telethon,” Mr Marles said.

Premier Roger Cook also attended the ball and recounted his own sense of nostalgia for Telethon and his childhood love of Fat Cat.

“Whether you were glued to the TV as a kid, making that call to the Telethon phone room, or getting your parents to do it for you as a yearly ritual, Telethon is woven into our lives,” Mr Cook said.

“In my house, it was a huge deal. We’d watch, we’d cheer and we’d donate what we could.”

As the son of an early childhood educator in his mother, and a father who was a doctor and child psychologist, Mr Cook said he too had seen the heartbreak of childhood illness and also the difference that donations could make.

“Telethon has transformed child health in WA,” the Premier said.

“It helps WA kids live longer, healthier and happier lives. Countless lives changed.

“And a medical research community that has been enabled to punch well above its weight.

“But we’re not done yet. Every dollar raised this weekend helps push the boundaries of what’s possible even further.”

Now in its 58th year, Telethon has evolved to become a full weekend of festivities.

The round-the-clock fundraising extravaganza at RAC Arena kicked off with The Voice Australia coach Ronan Keating headlining, joined by Australian Idol alumni Shannon Noll, Rob Mills, Dami Im and Casey Donovan.

Hearts melted for the most important guests of all — the Little Telethon Stars, Izzy Miller, Jordan Blair, Xavier Summers and Paige McIllree — who were left starstruck by the performers.

Izzy, 5, is battling a neuroblastoma, nine-year-old Jordan has the rare genetic condition known as DDCH syndrome, and Xavier and Paige are living with cerebral palsy.

In the crowd at the arena was a family spanning three generations — nanna Jan, mum Lisa and daughter Ayla — who recounted their earliest Telethon memories.

Nanna said she watched it since the very beginning on TV and her earliest memory was the Telethon Money Brick Wall.

Asked what she loved most about the event, the grandmother replied: “The way that we support each other as a community.”

“Because it doesn’t really matter whether you’ve only got five cents or you’ve got millions of dollars, every little bit helps.”

Lisa said her earliest memory of the event was Fat Cat, as did her daughter.

“I’ve got one at home that’s got no eyes, no nose. He’s like, 40-odd years old,” Lisa said.

Anita Dean, 64, brought her grand-daughter Alicia for her first Telethon. The nine-year-old said she was most excited to see the celebrities.

“I just love the atmosphere, the environment and what they’re doing,” Ms Dean said.

She said she had watched Telethon on TV for 37 years, since she moved to Australia, but this was her first time seeing it in person.

“I want to see Manu ... I love his accent!”

Dannielle Williams, 37, said she brought her children “because I used to come as a kid”.

“And I used to come because my cousin spent a lot of time in the Children’s Hospital,” Ms Williams said.

Sam Griffiths said he had been watching Telethon since he moved to Perth in 2015 from Canberra, and what he loved most about it was: “The community coming together and donating to a good cause.”

The goodwill takes over the Perth CBD on Sunday, with the return of the popular Telethon Family Festival, transforming the stretch of Wellington Street from Perth Arena to Yagan Square into a vibrant, free community celebration from 10am.

Telethon began in 1968 and keeps smashing records, becoming the nation’s most successful charitable event.

The $1m barrier was broken in 1980, climbing to $2.5m in 2000 and an epic $83.3m last year, bringing the total raised at that point to a staggering $688m.