Newcastle and Hunter residents hold the world record for the highest funds raised per head of population for any Telethon.
NBN's viewers always responded with enthusiasm and untold generosity to telethons. It cannot be said too many times that NBN was a major supporter of its community, holding telethons for thirty years that raised 18 million dollars for regional needs and charities.
They funded the region's first cancer treatment centre at Newcastle Mater Misericordiae Hospital, the Children’s Cancer Research Centre at John Hunter Children’s Hospital, the Paediatric Clinic in Maitland, the Children’s ward in the hospitals in both Singleton and Cessnock, and for the Central Coast Cancer Care Appeal.
In 2002 - during its 40th year of broadcasting - NBN ran an Australian first: six Telethons that raised $3.5 million for regional child and youth services.
Pictured below: One of the most successful events, the 1997 John Hunter Children’s Hospital Children’s Cancer Telethon.
Little is known of the early 'thons, other than the photographs of the first, shown in the section that follows. But from 1983 records detail the following:
- 1983 Newcastle Mater Miscericordiae Cancer appeal ~ $1.8 million
- 1985 Newcastle Mater Miscericordiae Cancer ~ $1.9 million
- 1987 Hunter Life Education ~ $1.2 million
- 1989 Breast Cancer and Melanoma ~ $2 million
- 1993 Newcastle Mater Miscericordiae for Breast Cancer and Tamworth Base Hospital Breast Cancer ~ $2.5 million
- 1997 (mentioned above) John Hunter Children's Hospital ~ $3 million
- 2000 Central Coast Cancer Appeal ~ $1.1 million
- 2002 Kids Project throughout NNSW ~ 3.9 million
The final event in that list (2002) is well documented.
It was NBN's 40th year of broadcasting. Management and staff wanted to do something special. The theme was our children and a silent epidemic afflicting them in Newcastle and northern NSW in particular. All six regions served by the station network's ability to 'breakaway' to local level (for news stories and advertising) would hold six special telethons, some in several places at once:
12th October ~ Gold Coast
2nd November 2002 ~ Northern Rivers (Lismore, Ballina)
16th November ~ North West (Tamworth, Moree, Inverell - live from town halls)
Unknown, researching ~ Mid North Coast (Taree, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour)
7th December ~ Central Coast (Wyong, Erina, Gosford, - live from Mingara and Wyong Oasis Youth Centres)
14th December ~ Newcastle (Hunter Valley, Port Stephens, Lake Macquarie)
As explained by the CEO:
NBN has launched an ambitious project – aimed at improving the social outcomes for our regions kids. Why? Because in the new millennium, the road for our kids is the toughest it’s been for many, many years. We believe that the problems facing our kids today are far different from those of previous generations.
Where do families and kids go for help? Plenty of organisations exist, but their work is “splintered” and awareness low. NBN aims to tackle these issues providing on-air education, information and financial support.
Through Telethon 2002 , incorporating The NBN Kids Project ,we will encourage our community to take ownership of these issues and provide a better life for all kids.
The statistics behind this decision were disturbing. At that time Australia had one of the highest rates of male youth suicide in the world: 380 died in 1999 of over 15,000 who attempted. Youth unemployment was 30%, illicit drug use by 38%, more than 100,000 children reportedly abused or neglected, with a similar number (aged 12-24) experienced homelessness, with estimated 37,000 being homeless on any given night.
It's a sad and depressing read that some child in your street is suffering physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, rejection by a new parental partner, family conflict and breakdown, domestic violence, and even poverty, in this wealthy but rather selfish society.
The six telethons were an outstanding success. Of the grand total, the five regional centres combined contributed almost one million dollars, which was well on par (per head) with the historic generosity of Hunter residents.
Beneficiaries of the 2002 telethons:
Wyong Oasis Youth Centre
Hunter Life Education
Newcastle Youth Service
Mission Australia
Life Education
The Child and Youth Health Network (CAYHNET)
John Hunter Children's Hospital
Kaleidoscope (Hunter Region Kids Health Service)
Starlight Foundation
Editor's note: With almost no information available, photos are largely uncaptioned. Kudos, btw, to the documenting photographer/s who braved the crowds and cables to capture on celluloid this valuable historic record under difficult physical and lighting conditions. Their mission was to record the making of the event, not just photograph celebrities. Without their diligence and awareness, neither this photo essay nor any of the other NBN articles would exist. Except for the one branded "Telethon 87" and another recorded as 1975, can you date the others? Were you there?
1975
This appears to be the first colour telethon, produced in the same year that the station transmitted in colour. The cameras are new and without decals. Over the years camera decals changed, which helped to sort the randomly mixed bag of images in the collection.
Never heard Wal Morrison singing, but he evidently is in the scene above.
Below: Well known personality of the day Bob McGready hosted
this event. Bob also hosted Channel 3's Malleys Jackpot Quiz.
They certainly kept the crowd on a tight leash back then.
A little unusual - this seems to be a 'giftathon' too.
Angel One Appeal
One thing is for sure - very large spectacles were in vogue that year.
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According to camera decals, this could be either of the 1979 or 1981 telethons. Your archivist really has no idea of what decals belong to what years. Information is invited in the comments (much much) further below. Many thanks.
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Above: By now the audience, the community, could occupy the floor and
mingle with talent and guests. Television was now firmly in service of the
participant-viewer.
Below: We should never forget the zaniest comedian Newcastle has produced:
Super Hubert. A treasured memory was his propensity to bite Big Dog's ear at
any opportunity. Long live Hubert.
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This event used the same phone number as the '87 that follows below, and the same studio set as the preceding.
Above: This surviving print (no negative found) confirms the total easily passed $1 million.
1987
This was perhaps the most memorable, with NBN at it's height as a community station.
And all shows have to begin somewhere, but it soon avalanched into a riot...
Above and below: The chopper occasion below is uncaptioned. However, the well-known singer and the young lad in both photos bear strong resemblance.
Early 1990s?
These four photos show yet another telethon with Joe Sweeney, placing it within his 9-year management window, so possibly as late as 1991. Kamahl and Di Scotts are identified. Maybe an NBN staffer can pin it down.
Above: An oversight by your compiler? No, just evidence that this great collection of photos in the NBNTV series were indeed scanned from physical photographic negatives.
Cancer Care Appeal
1997
A bit sad that there are no photos of this telethon, that I assume was held in the huge Studio C where these paintings were preserved. From digital camera images taken early 2000s.
Kooee!
By 2001 NBN had created a telecommunications company, SPTEL (Soul Pattinson Telecommunications), a classifieds website (4Sale2Buy), it's own station websites, and an 'ISP' - Internet service provider - many will recall as the dial-up service named Kooee. Well, it seems even Kooee had its telethon.
These digital images have no context, and it's possible this was not a telethon but an appeal or fund-raiser. Any clarification by a reader would be most appreciated.
Tech note: These are fortunate survivors date-stamped 14th December 2002, and are digital files from a Sony Mavica camera found in the Rob Stubbs digital archive, but do not match his collection so were likely provided him. It is quite likely the actual date of the Kooee event. Anyone??
Telethons didn't end entirely for NBN. After PBL Media consumed NBN in 2007, we supported Nine's efforts. On 11th June 2010 their Gold Week Telethon raised $2.1 million for Gold Week and the Sydney Children's Hospital Foundation. In addition to local staff volunteers for the Sydney mob, Big Dog dusted off his suit and made an appearance.
During NBN News' publicising of the event with an appeal to locals, it was mentioned that John Hunter Children's Hospital cares for the majority of sick children across northern NSW.
A Final Word
At Calvary Mater Hospital's Open Day on Saturday 28 August 2010, celebrating the Radiation Oncology Department's 25 Year Anniversary, NBN CEO Deborah Wright praised not only the hospital staff and decades of NBN volunteers, but the entire viewership of the station for their incredible support over three decades, from the first Telethon in 1972.
In anticipation of today’s most important milestone event I was reflecting over the past 25 years, you see I’m in a most privileged position today, as my career with NBN spans 27 years, (of course I’d like to point out that I was a small child when I started at NBN) and I have been actively involved in all of NBN Telethons over this period and therefore have a degree of history with this centre.
It’s due to my first hand experience and knowledge that I’d like to acknowledge the following:
1. The dedication and commitment and level of care of the staff of the Mater;
2. The courage , determination and strength of the patients using the treatment centre and theirs’ and their families deep appreciation for this local facility;
3. The generosity and commitment of our wonderful local community who have had unwavering support of NBN Telethons and infact, as a community, are world leaders (on a per capita basis) in raising the much needed funds to support the real needs of their fellow community members.
4. The dedication, support and tireless efforts of the wonderful NBN family both past and present. All giving their services voluntarily in support of Telethons.
The Radiation Oncology Department was founded with NBN and community Telethon monies 25 years ago and is now the largest radiation oncology treatment centre in NSW. NBN’s initial involvement with the department to establish the first linear accelerator (radiation treatment machine) for the hospital was a significant part of Mater history as this was the first stage in providing cutting edge treatment to cancer patients in this region. This alleviated the need for Hunter patients to travel to Sydney with the enormous disruption and added concerns to both the patient and their family at a most challenging time of their lives.
In having the privilege of a guided tour of the Department some 25 years ago and now revisiting here today it’s both inspiring and remarkable to see the many advances made in the treatment of cancer through much improved techniques and technology resulting in such significant improvements for patients and staff on so many levels.
One of the great visions of those who were part of the NBN Telethon was to see patients in our region have access to the same treatments available in Metropolitan areas – we, as a community, have fulfilled this commitment as the Calvary Mater is now regarded as an outstanding example of health care excellence in the field of radiation oncology.
"It is with enormous pride and appreciation that I once again acknowledge efforts of our NBN staff over the years for their significant support of Telethons combined with the wonderful efforts and generosity of our community that I congratulate the management and staff of the Mater Calvary on their dedication to fulfilling our collective vision.
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