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Boyhood support grew to $1m Telethon donation

Tim Roberts, joined Telethon's group of million-dollar partners in 2012.

As a young boy growing up in Perth, Tim Roberts remembers watching Telethon on TV and wanting to help.

So he cobbled together his pocket money, earned through putting the bins out and tidying the backyard, and donated it.

As Telethon kicked off today, Mr Roberts was preparing to again support the annual fundraiser - albeit to the tune of a significantly larger amount.

The Perth businessman joined Telethon's group of million- dollar partners in 2012, and last year upped his donation to $1.5 million.

He will not reveal his pledge for this year until tonight but will remain in that upper echelon of donors.

Mr Roberts said big donations, such as the $4 million already announced by BHP Billiton, would "no doubt fire up the spirit of this year's event" and help Telethon break last year's record of $20.7 million.

Mr Roberts now runs a diversified investment fund but was previously a director of construction giant Multiplex, founded by his father, the late John Roberts.

Along with his siblings, he helped make their share of the company into a billion-dollar stake before it was sold to Brookfield in 2007.

Despite his childhood connection to Telethon, it has been in recent years that Mr Roberts developed an "affinity" with the event, as he grew to better understand what it achieved.

He was inspired to give to Telethon by the stories of the Telethon children and the generosity of other benefactors, including Kerry Stokes, James Packer, Malcolm McCusker and Andrew and Nicola Forrest.

"I am extremely passionate in respect to supporting Telethon, knowing what it does for the medical and social welfare of children, along with funding research into children's diseases," Mr Roberts said. "To reflect on the courage and determination of children in such adversity is heart-wrenching.

"Behind the wonderful causes of Telethon is a spirit of profound generosity of West Australians. Not only has Telethon made a marked difference to so many people's lives, it has harnessed a spirit of giving that is so unique.

"Giving is a social responsibility and I see philanthropy as integral to who we are. It provides an opportunity to make a difference to the community, irrespective of your means."