A set of stunning Australian opals are being auctioned off by the Mildura Health Foundation, honouring the memory of Mark Kooper.
The proceeds from the online silent auction will be put towards the Dr. Julie Zrna Centre, giving patients who undergo radiation treatment at Mildura Health Icon Cancer Centre (MHICC), a suitable place to stay during treatment.
Before Mark lost his five-year battle with lung and brain cancer, he wanted to give back to the medical professionals and staff at Mildura Health Private Hospital and MHICC, who supported his family during an incredibly tough period.
Mark’s family is now carrying on his legacy and ensuring others with cancer can undergo treatment locally without the stress and costs associated with having to find accommodation during treatment if they live in outlying areas such as Ouyen, Robinvale, Swan Hill, Euston and Broken Hill.
“Finding accommodation is the last thing you want to be bothered with,” Pauline said.
“Just having the reassurance of knowing the Dr. Julie Zrna Centre is available, a home away from home, would not only be very helpful but would result is one less stress for a family going through a challenging time.”
Mark’s diagnosis in early 2020 led to multiple consultations and treatments at MHICC.
Most days he was able to return to his Merbein home, but there were times when Mark was flown to Melbourne for emergency surgery, resulting in Pauline having to drive to Melbourne and find last minute accommodation so she could be by Mark’s side.
“Nothing is more overwhelming than having to travel out of town to receive cancer treatment and then having to find and pay for accommodation when you’re unsure how long you will be there,” Pauline said.
“I wish there had have been accommodation like the Dr. Julie Zrna Centre in Melbourne for all the times Mark had to be flown there for treatment.”
Unfortunately Mark received the news in October 2021 that his cancer had become terminal.
For Mark, a passionate opal prospector from White Cliffs, NSW, opals weren’t just gemstones, they were his lifelong love.
Mark had an early introduction to the world of precious gemstones at the age of nine when he would travel with his father from their Woollongong home to Queensland to go ruby and sapphire hunting.
At age 12, the pair made the trip to White Cliffs where Mark’s love of opals began.
“Dad always said there was something magical about them. Each one told a different story and they’re all unique in their own way,” Mark’s daughter Jessie said.
As a young adult, it became Mark’s part-time job to regularly visit White Cliffs to hunt for opals, until 1986 when he moved there permanently.
Two years later, Mark met his wife and together they built a life in White Cliffs, raising their two children in a traditional dugout home as many miners had done before them.
The family relocated to Merbein in 2005 where Mark went on to work in many different industries.
“Mark was a very knowledgeable man, and multiskilled. He did everything from landscaping, mining and jewellery making, to being a draftsman and OHS specialist,” Pauline noted.
In his final months in late 2024, despite the deterioration of movement in his hands, Mark created his last masterpiece, a stunning opal necklace and earring set donated for the auction.
“Throughout his years with cancer, he always had a positive mindset and made the most of the short life he had left to live,” Pauline said.
“He always needed to keep his mind occupied.”
There was not enough time for Mark to complete the second half of his donation, so Pauline and Jessie finished what he had started, creating a striking opal tie clip and cufflink set, featuring hand-mined crystal opals previously polished by Mark.
“This auction is more than just a sale—it’s a tribute, a symbol of resilience, and an opportunity to make a real difference,” Jessie said.
“Through this donation we are ensuring Mark’s legacy continues—not only in the timeless beauty of his opals but in the lives that will be touched by MHICC patients having a comfortable place to stay during treatment,” Pauline added.
“For those who place a bid, they’re not just acquiring a breathtaking piece of Australian history, they’re becoming part of a mission to ensure everyone has access to cancer treatment and care closer to home.”
Pauline extended her gratitude to MHPH and MHICC staff, with special acknowledgment to Dr. Tom Gleeson, Oncologist Dr. Krishna Rachakonda and Senior Medical Receptionist Michelle Turner, who not only cared for Mark but formed a deep bond with the whole family.
The silent auction is now live and will run until 18 September 2025.
To access the auction and place a bid, visit: www.mhfoundation.com.au
