Charity auction puts prostate cancer in the frame

As she surveys the artworks being hung for her auction to raise money for prostate cancer treatment, artist Mary Schepisi says this year the message needs to be heard louder than ever.

Artist Mary Schepisi with some of the artworks for her latest auction in Melbourne to raise money for prostate cancer treatment. Picture: Aaron Francis

As she surveys the artworks being hung for her auction to raise money for prostate cancer treatment, artist Mary Schepisi says this year the message needs to be heard louder than ever.

Because of the reluctance of people to visit the doctor during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Schepisi fears there will be a spike of cancer patients waiting to be diagnosed.

“Because of COVID, people weren’t going to get check-ups, treated or diagnosed — and that includes all forms of cancer,” she said. “The number of people calling into cancer care centres dropped by 30 per cent, meaning we are going to have a spike in cancer patients and I find that horrible and astonishing.”

The auction, called New Directions, will be hosted by auction house Deutscher and Hackett this weekend in Melbourne and will be the fifth one Schepisi has organised to benefit prostate cancer treatment.

Artists being exhibited include Michael Zavros, John Kelly, Brook Andrew and Fred Williams. The funds will go to the Australian Prostate Centre to buy new technology for cancer biopsy.

10/02/21 Artist Mary Schepisi has organised an art auction to raise money for breast cancer research.. Aaron Francis/The Australian

Schepisi said the clinic offered a place where men with “any form of cancer below the waist” can get advice, counselling, diagnosis and treatment at no cost to the patient.

“They take care of all parts of their patients. If patients don’t have insurance, they will look after them and cut the wait time in half. It is truly an amazing place,” she said.

She knows this because her husband, Australian film producer and director Fred Schepisi, was one of those men. She recalls the moment in 2005 when they received the results of a routine check-up after having recently returned to New York from a location shoot for the award- winning miniseries Empire Falls.

“After receiving the results, we were sent to a prostate doctor where Fred was diagnosed,” she said. The Schepisis were advised that Professor Tony Costello, the APC’s executive director, was the “best prostate surgeon in Melbourne” and have remained in touch ever since.

Her previous auctions have received donations from established practitioners to fresh artists and have garnered a following among collectors.

“The work is exceptional this year; there are some absolutely stunning pieces,” she said.

The auction will be held at 6pm on Sunday in Melbourne.