More shade in the macedon ranges to prevent skin cancer

More people in the Macedon Ranges will be protected from the sun’s rays, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government installing more sunshades and trees in community spaces and sports clubs across Victoria.

Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas, today announced that the Gisborne Thunder Swimmer Club, Lady Brooks Kindergarten, Macedon Ranges Bowling Club and the South Gisborne Tennis Club are a part of the 323 community organisations who will share in $2 million from the third round of the Community Shade Grant Program.

The Gisborne Swimming Club will receive $3,658 The Lady Brooks Kindergarten will receive $10,359 The Macedon Ranges Bowling Club will receive $4,908 The South Gisborne Tennis Club will receive $1,873 Through the Community Shade Grant Program, which assists organisations to purchase and install shade sails or plant shady trees, the Labor Government is helping Victorians to be sun smart and prevent skin cancer, while also embracing the outdoors and enjoying a more active and healthy lifestyle.

In delivering on a key election commitment, the Labor Government has invested $15 million for skin cancer prevention initiatives – including $5 million for SunSmart campaigns and $10 million in grants for shade in public places and government schools.

Australia has the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, with two in three people diagnosed by the age of 70.

It’s estimated that 40,000 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in Victoria every year. In 2016, 256 Victorians died from melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.

The Community Shade Grant Program is complemented by the School Shade Grant Program, which provides grants for shade in Victorian Government schools. Together, these programs have awarded more than 1,000 grants across Victoria.

And our Victorian Cancer Plan 2016-20 has set an ambitious target of saving 10,000 lives from cancer in the next 10 years.

Gisborne Thunder Swimming Club will use these funds to purchase portable shade sails, to accompany them to swim meets across the state.

In more great news, Gisborne Thunder Swimming Club will receive $750 from the latest round of the Andrews Government’s 2017/18 Athlete Pathway Travel Grant Program.

The program helps aspiring Victorian athletes, teams, coaches and officials to realise their sporting potential through grants that remove the barrier of travel and accommodation costs.

The Gisborne Thunder Swimming Club have also been successful with two bids for grants worth a combined $7,000 from the latest round of the Andrews Labor Government’s Sporting Club Grants Program.

The Sporting Club Grants Program is helping more people of all ages and abilities in Macedon to get involved in grassroots sports and get active.

The Gisborne Thunder Swimming Club will use the funding for implement Swimming Coach Training and a new club strategic plan, which are aimed to upskill coaches and increase community participation.

The Sporting Club Grants Program, which has distributed $750,000 across the state, is part of the Labor Government’s strategy to make sport more accessible and inclusive, support clubs and volunteers and boost participation at the grassroots level.

This comes on top of the Labor Government’s $120 million Community Sports Infrastructure Fund which is upgrading tired grounds and ageing pavilions, and building female-friendly change rooms across the state.

Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas
"Skin cancer is one of the most prevalent, yet largely preventable cancers affecting Victorians – that’s why the Community Shade Grant Program is so important."

"These shade grants make local community facilities and sporting clubs more accessible for everyone."

"I’d like to congratulate Gisborne Thunder Swimming Club on their successful grant bids. They’re a fantastic local sporting organisation that caters for swimmers of all ages and these grants will allow them to invest in quality coaching and continue to grow as a club."