As the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic continues to throw employment prospects and business practices in Australia into chaos, the country’s traditional Australian Football League season has become a sputtering stop-start competition with all 18 teams now forced to play in what has been termed coronavirus “hubs” (where the virus is virtually non-existent) to complete the home-and-away draw in time for finals.

The name Joel is synonymous with Australia’s antique and arts auction industry.

In 1919, Leonard Joel opened his doors in Melbourne’s CBD and son Graham, who was no less of an enthusiast, became a recognised doyen of the auction industry – regarded by many as the driving force behind Australia’s art market boom of the 1970s and 1980s.

After holding its first auction for 2020 in February, like many other Australian auction houses Menzies was obliged to hold off on its next Australian & International Fine Art & Sculpture sale until the deadly conditions caused by the coronavirus pandemic that swept the globe improved nationally.

Although the crisis is far from over in many other countries – and Australia is still facing troublesome hotspots with lockdowns in some Melbourne suburbs – Menzies is preparing for its forthcoming July 9 sale from 6.30pm at 12 Todman Avenue, Kensington in Sydney.

Leski Auctions is optimistically defying the odds of the Australian Government COVID-19 pandemic restrictions with big sales to attract the allowed but severely limited number of in-room auction goers along with absentee, phone and online bidders.

Its latest effort – a Decorative Arts & Collectables auction from 10am Sunday June 28 at 727-729 High Street, Armadale – lists 912 lots covering a wide range of collectables from silver to international and decorative arts, furniture, paintings, jewellery, clocks and a Winston Churchill collection.