WA Premier Roger Cook said he was proud of how Western Australia had come together for the State’s favourite fundraising event for Telethon 2026.

“This weekend is one where, as a Premier, that I feel most proud of us, as a State,” he said in an interview with The West Australian in the Telethon Green Room.

“Everyone is coming together for giving, with compassion, and to make sure they can reach out to sick and vulnerable kids right across WA.

“It’s a balm in these troubled times; the one weekend where we all come together.”

The Premier was at RAC Arena on Sunday, meeting crowds at the Telethon Family Festival.

He said it was nice to be out meeting families over the weekend, chatting about The Premier’s Challenge.

“It’s so nice to be here,” he said.

“It’s wonderful to see everyone out there at the festival.

“Obviously, we love the big donations, and we love those big auction items, but what I most love to see is the kids, with their fistfuls of coins and pocket money, that they are bringing to be part of it.

The Premier’s Challenge saw more than 75 schools across the State raising money for Telethon.

“The most successful school was Mindari (Primary School), who raised $32,000.

“Part of that was selling 1.5 tonnes of cookie dough!

“I was just out the front, and there was a school, Beenyup Primary School: they have got something like 300 kids, and they have raised $1200.”

He said Telethon makes these school children empowered “and part of something which is bigger than all of us.

“It’s something to be really proud of.”