Designers put in 43 hours and more than two carats of diamonds into this year’s stunning Telethon necklace, but the Little Telethon Stars designed its most unique features.
Tahlia Polmear, 11, and Jack Day, 11, were called in to our retail shop in the city to give the piece a personal, poignant touch. The inspirational pair drew pictures of themselves which design manager Erin Williams transformed into 18ct white and rose gold pendants.
The pendants sit on the clasp of a white gold chain, which holds a 1.52ct pear-shaped diamond accented by 0.31ct of white diamonds and 0.25ct of rare Argyle Pink diamonds.
Valued at $48,200, the necklace will be auctioned for Telethon at the sixth annual Lexus Ball at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday.
Perth singer-songwriter Samatha Jade will wear the necklace to the gala event, where she will accompany her new friend and fan from her X Factor days, Tahalia.
“The necklace is beautiful, even better than I expected,” Tahlia said.
Tahlia’s life has changed drastically since this time last year when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, but the burden of her disease can do little to change her happy disposition.
The Esperance girl will continue chemotherapy in 2015 and though she remains bubbly and full of life, she knows firsthand the gravity of Telethon’s mission.
More than once she has had to wait for a bed at Princess Margaret Hospital’s cancer ward and says she looks forward to the new children’s hospital opening.
“I reckon it’s really important – more important than football stadiums and stuff like that,” she said.
She encouraged guests at the Lexus Ball and people watching Telethon from home at the weekend to donate to help improve the lives of sick children.
“Kids like Jack and I need Telethon,” she said.
Article published by The West Australian
