The generosity and community spirit of Western Australia’s schools are on full display this Telethon as students from across our great state step up to present incredible fundraising totals and make their mark on the growing Telethon total.
From 12-hour dance marathons to cookie dough sales and high-profile slime sessions, local students have pulled out all the stops for - in their words - a fantastic the cause.
North Woodvale Primary School kept the energy high through a massive 12-hour discothon, complete with face painting and a special visit from Fat Cat, raising an astonishing $20,521.
“We did face painting and we danced for hours, and it was really fun because I did so many different dance moves and Fat Cat came,” said 10-year-old Freya Higgins as their tally was announced live during the Channel 7 broadcast on Sunday morning.
Poynter Primary School in Duncraig raised $2570 through a combination of crazy hair day, gummy bear sales and a pyjama day, though the doughnut sale proved to be the undisputed crowd favourite.
Their cheque presentation came with a twist as Home and Away stars Hailey Pinto and Kyle Shilling got “iced” like cupcakes by the excited students.
“That was so fun, I watch the Home and Away show,” said 11-year-old Amberley Dean.
Fellow student Indigo Bisschoff, 11, added: “My mum named me after a Home and Away character so it was cool meeting them. But I felt bad putting sprinkles in her hair.”
Mindarie Primary School pulled off a phenomenal $32,202, driven by an comprehensive list of activities including pyjama days, bake sales, crazy hair days and an 80s dress-up day.
They also shifted an incredible 1.5 tonnes of cookie dough.
The massive fundraising effort came with a promise that if the school reached $30,000 the students would get to slime their principal live on Telethon.
And that’s what happened.
Armed with eight buckets of homemade slime concocted by the students, the student leadership team gleefully covered the principal alongside Rocco Forrester-Sach from Home and Away.
“Our goal was to raise enough funds to reach far and wide,” teacher Tania Vanderspuy said.
“Our students’ leadership team and some other kids had the honour of doing the sliming. They were super excited.”
Dylan Stanton, 12, had a little too much fun completing the spoils of their success, declaring: “That was so good, it was very fun to slime the principal because it was funny.”
The spirit of West Australian giving stretches far beyond the metropolitan area, with regional schools rallying also.
Yakamia Primary School drove five hours from Albany to be at RAC Arena to announce they raised $10,073 after holding discos, pyjama days, crazy hair days and a traditional Bunnings sausage sizzle.
Denmark Primary School also made a five-hour journey to the capital to present a fantastic $11,458, raised through a community walkathon and bake sale.
Fundraising took on special significance at the schools that this year’s Little Telethon Stars attend.
St Peter’s Primary School raised an impressive $10,667.95 in honour of their Little Telethon Star classmate Olivia Street.
Settlers Primary School generated $3058.10 to support their very own Little Telethon Star Paige, while Leda Primary School added another $2449 to the tally in celebration of Little Telethon Star Aiden Narsico.
As the cheques continue to roll in Sunday, these incredible efforts highlight the heart, dedication, and community spirit of Western Australia’s youngest change-makers.