Telethon Golf Day 2025: Punters take over Lake Karrinyup Country Club for second annual golf fundraiser | USAEMALL.com

It was a perfect day on the green when golf fanatics descended on Lake Karrinyup Country Club for the second annual Telethon Golf Day.

The sun was shining as more than 30 teams hit the course on Friday to battle it out for a good cause.

It was on this very green that the idea for the mega-fundraiser was sparked, when Sir James Cruthers, then managing director of Channel 7 Perth, and Jim Clarkson, then chief executive of Princess Margaret Hospital, were playing a round at the club in 1967.

The inaugural Telethon was held a year later.

Among the go-getters welcoming golfers on Friday were 2024 Little Telethon Stars Nate Fearnall and Florence Shanks, and community fundraisers Cooper Taylor, who ran 100km in 100 days, and bake sale extraordinaire Emily Barlow, and the cat himself — Fat Cat.

Audi Centre Perth’s Bronte and Colleen Howson was back for another year, generously donating a flashy Audi Q5 Sportback for the hole-in-one competition.

“I’ve been a huge Telethon supporter, both from a family and business point of view, for many, many years,” Mr Howson said.

“Telethon is just a wonderful, wonderful organisation that helps so many families and children within Western Australia.”

Professional golfers Brett Rumford and Danielle Peers also joined, stepping in to take a shot for punters in exchange for a donation to Telethon.

“My whole life I’ve been watching Telethon, every single year . . . it’s generational,” Rumford said.

“I’ve got twin girls, so it pulls on my heart strings a bit more than normal. When you have kids, it changes things.”

Peers agreed.

“When you have your own children, you really feel it a lot more . . . you never know what’s around the corner,” she said.

Another dedicated Telethon supporter, Matador Capital managing director Grant Davey said fundraisers like Telethon are “a very important part of making sure the community is looked after”.

“What Western Australia does really well is support its community,” he said.

“I got involved (with Telethon) five or six years ago, and it’s great a charity. It’s the best charity in the world. There’s nothing like it.”

Themed food and beverage stops scattered across the course kept golfers well-fuelled, including “shuck and sip” at hole one, oysters from Catalano’s and Del Basso, bloody marys, and “Penfolds and pies” at hole five.

All produce and ingredients are donated for the on-course lunch and the evening’s gala dinner. Then it’s up to Fraser’s Restaurant executive chef Chris Taylor to work his magic and create the perfect menu.

And when his staff at Fraser’s join forces with the staff at LKCC, golfers are sure to receive the best hospitality possible.

“When you get all these guys involved, they’re here to do a good job and they know what’s going on,” Mr Taylor said.

For LKCC general manager Mark Adams, it’s an honour to have Telethon Golf Day return home for another year.

“There’s an atmosphere with Telethon . . . our members embrace it,” he said.

Telethon is back at RAC Arena on October 18 and 19 and ready to break last year’s record $83.3 million.

The 26-hour broadcast will air on Channel 7, 7flix and 7plus. Tickets for opening and closing shows go on sale September 9.