A series of three hard-hitting community service announcements fronted by Angry Anderson and backed by Blundstone will be broadcast nationally, encouraging Australian men to talk to their doctor about prostate health.

The community service announcements are inspired by Pete Wells, the Rose Tattoo guitarist who sadly lost his hard-fought battle with prostate cancer last year. Not long before Pete passed away, he asked his friend and band-mate, Angry Anderson to help get the word out about prostate cancer.

The fact is that prior to meeting Angry, we probably thought about prostate cancer just about as much as the next bloke - we didn't. It's not until it touches you, or through someone you know that you really start to think about it and how it ruins lives - by then it could be too late.

We first met Angry in early 2006 because we wanted him to front our "Tough on the outside, soft on the inside" advertising campaign to promote our new 550 boots. It was through talking to Angry and hearing first hand about the terrible effect that prostate cancer can have. We were shocked and surprised to learn some key facts about the disease:

• the number of new cases of prostate cancer in Australia has risen by over two thirds in the last decade
• Over 18,700 Australian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and the rate is expected to continue to rise over the following years
• men in rural and regional Australia have a 21% higher prostate cancer mortality rate than men in capital cities, because they have less access to medical treatment.
• the disease is now as big a threat to men as breast cancer is to women.

The crazy thing is that this appalling disease can be stopped if you catch it early - you just need to get yourself examined by a doctor. That's why we're backing Angry in these community service announcements to make sure Australian men understand the dangers of the disease and how easy it is for them to do something about it and get themselves checked.

In the three, thirty-second community service announcements, Angry talks about his mate Pete; the disease; how the risk of developing prostate cancer dramatically increases with age, and the importance of talking to your doctor about prostate cancer.

In one of the community service announcements, an emotional Angry says of Pete:

"I used to think he'd outlive me. We spent 30-years together in the band. He put up a hell of a fight right to the end, but you'd expect that of Pete.

"It was prostate cancer.

"If they had of found it earlier, he might still be around.

"Pete asked me to get the word out. So, don't make me angry. Talk to your doctor about your prostate and if necessary, get it checked. Don't become a legend before your time".

In another, Angry reminds Australian men of their responsibility to those they love.

"If you're someone's dad, someone's son or someone's partner, you owe it to them to get yourself checked for prostate cancer ....

"Look, don't muck around. Talk to your doctor about your prostate, and if necessary, get it checked."

We are committed to support Angry in whatever way we can to raise awareness among Australians of this terrible disease. For further information about prostate cancer, talk to your doctor or contact the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia on free-call 1800 22 00 99, or visit www.prostate.org.au