A collection of female Australian musicians have joined forces for a campaign that is designed both to honour the memory of Chrissy Amphlett and raise breast cancer awareness.

Almost exactly one year on from the iconic Aussie frontwoman’s death, on 21st April following complications with drawn-out battle with breast cancer and multiple sclerosis, a collection of 10 Australian performers have recorded a new version of The Divinyls’ 1991 hit, ‘I Touch Myself’, cleverly reworking the ode to ‘self-love’ into an anthem to soundtrack the new cancer awareness push of the same name.

Singing on the re-worked version, and appearing in stark black-and-white for its accompanying clip, are the likes of Megan Washington, Sarah Blasko, Katie Noonan, Sarah McLeod, Sneaky Sound System’s Connie Mitchell, and some of Amphlett’s contemporaries – such as Deborah Conway, Kate Ceberano, Olivia Newton-John, and Baby Animals frontwoman Suze DeMarchi.

Amphlett’s own cousin, singer ‘Little’ Pattie Amphlett, also appears in the tribute, telling News Corp that the Divinyls singer “would love this,” and says she was moved by the participation of music’s prominent female figures. As was the late singer’s husband and Divinyls member, Charley Drayton, who helped Amphlett battle through her struggle.

“Chrissy may not have thought at the time that the song was ever going to relate to breast cancer but she wants people to live and that means women — and men — giving themselves the chance, to be more aware,” he says. The ‘I Touch Myself Project’ is urging women to make routine self-examinations for the early detection of lumps or changes that could signal developing breast cancer.

Many of the singers involved also sung their praises for Amphlett who was ranked among the Greatest Aussie Singers by her peers in a 2013 poll shortly before her passing.

“I feel really emotional to be a part of it,” said Sarah Blasko. “It’s really hard to ignore the background of her – when she was dying – being very aware that this song was something that made sense with her illness. It’s very difficult to not be emotionally affected by that when you’re performing it.”

Megan Washington emphasised the brilliance of re-appropriating the context of ‘I Touch Myself’ for the campaign. “It’s really lovely to flip that meaning from sexual empowerment to health awareness,” says the ARIA-winning songwriter. “Such a sad and real and authentic use of that song.”

Meanwhile Baby Animals’ DeMarchi said being involved “is a really great honour,” adding that “Chrissy was a force… she left such a great legacy. Especially with this song…”

The ‘I Touch Myself’ campaign get its official launch this Wednesday 16th April alongside a new photographic exhibition at Sydney’s Blender Gallery in Paddington, where iconic images of the Divinyls singer will be sold to raise funds for Cancer Council NSW.

“I feel I have not lost Chrissy but I just miss her so much,” adds Drayton, who has been in Sydney with family to commemorate the anniversary of Amphlett’s death. Adding: “Making decisions for this project has been easy because it’s not my voice or my ego or my opinion, it’s Chrissy speaking and this is her wish.”

Head to ITouchMyself.org for more information on the breast cancer awareness campaign and portraits of the singers involved below:

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