Latest news with #Premier'sTelethonChallenge
Perth Now
21-07-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Helping shape a better future through power of giving
Inspired after a recent visit to Perth Children's Hospital, a group of Geraldton students are combining compassion and creativity to harness the power of fundraising and storytelling — all in the name of Telethon. The Year 6 students from Geraldton's St Francis Xavier Primary School are jumping on board the Kids Helping Kids storytelling competition, which launches on Monday as part of the Premier's Telethon Challenge. Their teacher Kieya Smith said her class was so inspired and moved from a visit to PCH during a Year 6 camp in May, they straight away asked what they could do for Telethon. 'They came back, and they were like, 'Let's raise some money,' it all started from that, and they've kicked off and kept rolling, and have lots of drive behind it,' she said. Ms Smith praised the students' initiative, saying their efforts had brought a fresh energy to the school. 'In most of our lessons, we do something towards this,' she said. The class was introduced to the Premier's Telethon Challenge, a Statewide school fundraising initiative, and sprung into action. Every Tuesday, the class splits into factions to develop and run unique fundraising activities, placing donation boxes in the classrooms, running bake sales and getting support from local businesses. One recent highlight was a school-wide pyjama day, which raised $662, adding to a total of $6740 raised towards their $8000 goal. Their next challenge is the Kids Helping Kids storytelling competition, which invites WA students, from kindergarten to Year 12, to reflect on how they and their school are shaping a brighter future through fundraising for WA kids. Asked how it feels knowing his story could help other kids, Year 6 student Flynn Hosking said: 'It's a good feeling because you know how much they need it.' Classmate Leeuwin Griffin added it was 'just not fair' what these kids were going through. 'We've been trying to get people to show more empathy for them,' he said. Fellow student Indie Haines is positive the fundraising will make a difference. 'There will be a lot more money getting put into research and so that means more cures to help a heap of sicknesses,' she said. The students remain focused on their goal of not just raising funds, but of raising awareness. Storytelling competition entries can take any written or visual form — from short stories and photography to posters and poems. It is open until Friday, August 15 and winning entries from four age categories will be published in The West Australian. Schools can submit one entry per age category. For more information visit
West Australian
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Poynter Primary School students don superhero costumes for Premier's Telethon Challenge
Hundreds of students donned superhero costumes on Friday as part of a new challenge to teach children about the importance of 'kids helping kids' — and raise money for Telethon. Almost 500 students and staff at Poynter Primary School in Duncraig were joined by Premier Roger Cook, Education Minister Sabine Winton and Fat Cat to launch the inaugural Premier's Telethon Challenge. The new initiative runs for 17 weeks and teaches students about the importance of philanthropy, charities, child medical research and the power of helping others. In an address to students, Mr Cook said it was all about 'kids helping kids'. 'Telethon is such an important event, it's about kids helping kids, and everyone taking the opportunity to think about those who aren't as fortunate as we are,' Mr Cook said. 'The Premier's Telethon Challenge (is about) empathy and compassion and making sure that we all understand that there are those of us in the community that aren't doing as well as we are. '(It's all about) reaching out and raising money . . . and all of us doing that little thing we must do to help someone else.' Mr Cook and Ms Winton were presented with a personalised superhero mask and cape with slogans 'Premier of positivity' and 'Minister of empathy'. 'One of my highlights of watching Telethon . . . is when you have young kids coming onto the telly, telling their story about how they raised $6.45,' Ms Winton said. 'They're such powerful, wonderful stories of children making the effort to think about what they can do. 'I'm looking forward to all the school's right around the State taking part in the Premier's Telethon Challenge and hearing about the creative, quirky, strange, fun ways that we can raise money for Telethon.' Students took part in a superhero-themed bake sale, with all proceeds going to Telethon. Year 6 student Jacob Murphy said Telethon was crucial in supporting sick children. 'Raising money for Telethon is extremely important because it gets to help kids that are less fortunate and are in need of medical supplies, cures and vaccines,' he said. 'Being a Telethon ambassador means I can help other kids which is very important.' Classmate Bree Morris said the superhero costumes represented the strength of sick children. 'Everyone is dressed up as a superhero and they feel really heroic which is on theme, because the children who are going through tough times are really strong,' she said. Mr Cook encouraged other schools to get on board by organising fundraising events like bake sales and walkathons. '(Bake sales) are a really simple way that kids can raise money for Telethon,' he said. 'I literally see millions of dollars going towards the organisations that day in, day out, help kids that are less fortunate than others. 'It's such an important part of any community that we reach out to those less fortunate than ourselves.'
Perth Now
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Students don superhero costumes for Telethon challenge
Hundreds of students donned superhero costumes on Friday as part of a new challenge to teach children about the importance of 'kids helping kids' — and raise money for Telethon. Almost 500 students and staff at Poynter Primary School in Duncraig were joined by Premier Roger Cook, Education Minister Sabine Winton and Fat Cat to launch the inaugural Premier's Telethon Challenge. The new initiative runs for 17 weeks and teaches students about the importance of philanthropy, charities, child medical research and the power of helping others. In an address to students, Mr Cook said it was all about 'kids helping kids'. Almost 500 students and staff at Poynter Primary School were joined by Premier Roger Cook, Education Minister Sabine Winton and Fat Cat on Friday to launch the inaugural Premier's Telethon Challenge. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The West Australian 'Telethon is such an important event, it's about kids helping kids, and everyone taking the opportunity to think about those who aren't as fortunate as we are,' Mr Cook said. 'The Premier's Telethon Challenge (is about) empathy and compassion and making sure that we all understand that there are those of us in the community that aren't doing as well as we are. '(It's all about) reaching out and raising money . . . and all of us doing that little thing we must do to help someone else.' Mr Cook and Ms Winton were presented with a personalised superhero mask and cape with slogans 'Premier of positivity' and 'Minister of empathy'. 'One of my highlights of watching Telethon . . . is when you have young kids coming onto the telly, telling their story about how they raised $6.45,' Ms Winton said. 'They're such powerful, wonderful stories of children making the effort to think about what they can do. 'I'm looking forward to all the school's right around the State taking part in the Premier's Telethon Challenge and hearing about the creative, quirky, strange, fun ways that we can raise money for Telethon.' Students took part in a superhero-themed bake sale, with all proceeds going to Telethon. WA Premier Roger Cook has launched the Premiers Telethon Challenge at Poynter Primary School in Duncraig. Pictured is Fat Cat with students Jacob Murphy (11), Chloe Sanderson (11), Bree Morris (11), Tess Kelly (11) and Isla Cotchin (11) at the school Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The West Australian Year 6 student Jacob Murphy said Telethon was crucial in supporting sick children. 'Raising money for Telethon is extremely important because it gets to help kids that are less fortunate and are in need of medical supplies, cures and vaccines,' he said. 'Being a Telethon ambassador means I can help other kids which is very important.' Classmate Bree Morris said the superhero costumes represented the strength of sick children. 'Everyone is dressed up as a superhero and they feel really heroic which is on theme, because the children who are going through tough times are really strong,' she said. Mr Cook encouraged other schools to get on board by organising fundraising events like bake sales and walkathons. '(Bake sales) are a really simple way that kids can raise money for Telethon,' he said. 'I literally see millions of dollars going towards the organisations that day in, day out, help kids that are less fortunate than others. 'It's such an important part of any community that we reach out to those less fortunate than ourselves.'
