Emily’s Tele-rrific Weekend

Eight-year-old Emily Siew is a student in Telethon Speech & Hearing's Outpost program and was selected alongside Leo Beazley (left) and Ari Phillips (centre) as one of Telethon's three Little Telethon Stars for Telethon Weekend 2022.

We asked Emily to tell us about her exciting Telethon Weekend experience in her own words.

After more than eight weeks of filming, photoshoots and preparation, the big Telethon weekend was finally here. I got to stay in Crown Towers, which was the best, and I got many chocolates and Bella the bear. It was fun to be pampered, to dress up and have my hair done.

My fellow Telethon Stars Ari, Leo and I had afternoon tea with the Premier, Mr McGowan and his wife Sarah, and were given a quokka each. I asked him exactly how much he was going to give Telethon, but he dodged the question. I think he wanted to keep it as a secret until the very end.

We met the prime minister, Mr Albanese, who promised us he would wear the Telethon Pyjamas - and he did, although only the top.

I got to meet many Channel 7 media personalities, including Ricki Lee, Manu, Ada, Lynne, Nelson and my favourite, Rob Palmer. He is very funny, and he said he would build me my dream (cubby) house. Fingers crossed! I also got to meet WCE superstar Nic Nat, although I follow Richmond.

My school, Newman College came together and raised $12,000 by organising a carnival with lots of activities, including face painting, bowling, and picking a teacher to get slime-dunked! My friends came to the RAC arena to help me present the cheque.

At the end of the weekend, I was given a huge box of presents, which was just amazing! I was a bit worried about how I would bring them home that night as I couldn't carry them all, but they promised me they would be delivered to my house.

I am so glad to have Ari and Leo as my Telethon star friends. They are so funny and we get along like a house on fire. Our parents get a bit worried about what we will say to people when we are together, or on live TV. Luckily, we have not said anything too controversial.

I felt a bit sad when it was all over, but I will always remember this tele-rific weekend and the record-breaking amount of money that was raised to help kids in WA. I am so proud to be a Little Telethon Star this year. Thank you.

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Telethon Speech & Hearing acknowledges and thanks all individuals and organisations for their support of our centre, including: Channel 7 Telethon Trust, Channel 7 and The West Australian