This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on Monday 29th June 1981. "Ginnette McDonald (Lynn of Tawa) does her bit for the Central Districts Telethon appeal in Palmerston North"
With the driest of deliveries and an ever-present piece of gum to chew on, 'Lynn of Tawa' was the infamous comic creation of comedian Ginette McDonald, whose overblown accent perfectly satirised lower-middle class kiwi suburban life.
Telethon 1981 was for the International Year of Disabled Persons. Telethon was a 24-hour live television spectacular designed to raise money for charitable causes. It originated in the United States, but New Zealand put a typically Kiwi spin on the event. Local performers, amateur and professional were joined by international stars, who entertained New Zealand to raise money for charity. Groups of people from schools, clubs, and pubs, contributed cash and cheques, often in an oversized format, to add to the pledged totals on the day of the event.