A billionaire bidding for a cruise with a former Premier, a surprise battle for a gold bar, a new TV cooking star for the Morning Show – and a record $25 million raised.

The 2026 Telethon Ball once again exceeded expectations with a phenomenal display of generosity from an electrified room filled with Australia’s top executives, political powerhouses, philanthropists and top entertainers.

Sweeping past champagne receptions into a lavish green, gold and pink floral sanctuary, attendees entered an atmosphere overflowing with glamour — setting the scene for a night of an unbelievable display of digging deep for sick children.

Guiding the high-octane festivities was WA’s very own Ryan Daniels, assisted by Channel 7’s Samantha Jolly, while fan-favourite Adrian “Barra” Barich worked the floor to keep the energy soaring and the laughs rolling throughout the live auction.

The record $25 million raised on Saturday night came from fiercely bidded auction items, generous pledges and a silent auction.

A family long associated with Telethon made an astonishing anonymous donation of $4 million, former governor Malcolm McCusker and wife Tonya pledged $3 million, and Tony and Milvia Poli donated $1 million during the night’s gift of giving pledges, on top of winning a fierce bidding war for a luxury six night stay in Dubrovnik for $100,000.

Former Northern Star Resources managing director Stuart Tonkin stunned the room with a heated battle for a 1kg gold bar, offering $500,000, before a second one was auctioned, which he also snapped up, taking his donation to $1 million, on top of his personal $300,000 donation.

Another hot item that fuelled an electric back and forth was a cruise to Rottnest Island with former Premier Mark McGowan on his boat. Telethon Trustee Kerry Stokes ended up winning the contested bid, and naming rights, for $76,000 – with the boat to now be named Stokesy.

NRW’s Jules Pemberton won the auction for a private Penfolds dinner for 10 with the Prime Minister and winemaker Peter Gago, while his wife Aleisha took out the bidding war for a spot filming a cooking segment on The Morning Show, taking their total contribution on the night to $425,400.

The State’s two mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP both donated $1.5 million during the gift of giving in the room on Saturday night, on top of their already incredible generosity, taking their total commitments to $5.5 million each.

Telethon’s long loyal partners donating $1 million included Woodside, Hawaiian and The Wen family, Chevron, Mineral Resources, and Crown, while Lexus’ David and Megan Jeary contributed a $100,000 on top of the $550,000 raised by the Lexus Lottery for Telethon.

New members joined the Telethon family this year with Commonwealth Business Bank donating $500,000 during Kane Cornes’ massive marathon effort during the week, and $500,000 in the room on Saturday night to become a $1 million partner.

CDC Data Centres also donate for the first time this year, with $265,700. Fortescue contributed $500,000, Raleigh and Vanesa Finlayson, with Genesis Minerals, donated $350,000, Susie and Steve Gulvin, $275,000, and Dale and Galabinga Henderson, and Pilbara Minerals, donated $416,000 on the night.

An 11-night luxury Indonesian voyage for two aboard the Paspaley Pearl was fiercely bidded, with Troy and Jodie Passmore taking the epic prize for $100,000, taking their generosity on the night to $254,000.

The Paspaley family kindly offered another cruise for auction with Tad and Margaret Watroba the happy bidders with $80,00, taking their Telethon total to $252,252.

Telethon trustee Bill Beament donated $200,000, Rod and Carol Jones $250,00, Brendon Harris and Sandfire $220,000, Mark and Deseree Tadei $150,000, and Luke Mader and the Madar group over $200,000.

Telethon Trust chair Richard Goyder, and wife Janine, led from the front with a $201,000 personal donation.

Mr Goyder kicked off the night with a passionate address to remind guests exactly why they were there.

“This organisation, Telethon, has done something really, really special in Western Australia, and it’s ours. It’s something to be proud of,” Mr Goyder said.

“We do this for our kids, but most importantly, we do it because it makes our community stronger and better. We’re looking after our kids and their families who need their support.”

The 700 ball guests enjoyed a live theatrical cabaret performance blending flamenco-inspired dance with elaborate fans, voluminous ruffled skirts and dramatic showgirl flair.

Australian singer Jessica Mauboy set the room on fire, captivating everyone with her stunning vocals and high energy performance that left the crowd spellbound.

Meanwhile, Kate Miller-Heidke inspired every person in the room to take to their feet, as she belted a moving cover of the late Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colours.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his wife Jodie Haydon, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, Premier Roger Cook and his wife Carly Lane, Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti, leader of the opposition Basil Zempilas, and their parliamentary colleagues, were out in full force.

The Prime Minister, visibly inspired by the room’s energy, used his address to make a jaw-dropping announcement of his own.

“Tonight the biggest state in the world hosts the biggest telethon in the world to show its people have the biggest heart in the world,” Mr Albanese said.

“It’s an extraordinary achievement and a true testament to the vibrancy and the sense of community that you don’t have to be from the West to understand that this is the culture that you have built here over generations.

“It’s often said that it takes a village to raise a child. Well, today a whole state joins in to raise its children.

“It is Team WA that’s most united, and I want the whole country to join in, which is why I’m proud to announce that my government is committing $6 million in funding to telethon tonight on behalf of the government.”

Premier Cook urged the rich-listers and powerful assembly to dig deep and choose “compassion”, dubbing it the WA way.

“My parents taught me that being as an observer is not enough, if you see a problem and you have the means and ability to try to do something about it, you must act,” he said.

“Lives changed, families supported, breakthroughs achieved, that is the power of Telethon. It demonstrates the extraordinary things that we can do when we can choose compassion over indifference and action over complacency.

“We all know Western Australia is a wonderful place but none of it means very much if your child is sick.”

It was an emotional precursor to one of the most moving moments of the night — mother Charky Morrison sharing the heartbreaking story of her daughter, Bubba.

Three-year-old Bubba was playing on the playground when a small cut on her hand became infected and progressed to a life-threatening infection.

She spent almost four months at Perth Children’s Hospital, was placed in an induced coma, underwent multiple surgeries and lost one lung.

Bubba wouldn’t be here today without vital medical research and is a living example of the difference Telethon can make.

“She had to learn to move again, walk again, eat again, breathe again,” Ms Morrison said.

“We got told three times that she may need her leg amputated. But our miracle is running.

“She’s swimming with that leg, she kicks with that leg, and she’s just a living, breathing miracle,” Ms Morrison said.

The auction items also included two tickets to watch cricket’s 150th Anniversary Test match at the MCG were snapped up by 2026 West Australian of the Year, Dr Jim Giumelli, for $35,000.

Beyond the high-flying auction prizes, direct investments in medical innovation brought the night’s mission into sharp focus.

Inspired by Little Telethon Star Aiden Narsico, who relies on a ventilator to breathe every day, Woodside Energy CEO Liz Westcott revealed she would be donating $125,000 directly to PCH for the purchase of 20 new ventilators.

Another transformative purchase was a $75,000 point-of-care ultrasound machine for neonatology, paid for on the spot by a donor.

PCH clinicians will use the machine daily to quickly assess fragile infants for conditions affecting the heart, lungs, brain, and abdomen, guiding crucial procedures with greater accuracy and comfort.

These purchases were generous commitments to care, research and a future where WA children will have access to the very best medical support.

With almost 150 beneficiary organisations set to receive funding support this year, the ripple effect from Saturday night will touch thousands of lives.

As the final tally climbed to its triumphant finish, the spectacular $25 million total smashed last year’s $21.4 million record completely out of the park.

The 2026 Telethon Ball was a jaw-dropping, high-energy display of what happens when a community comes together to build a better future for the kids.