Gippsland › Latest news › Harriet Shing MP

Gippslanders gets $68,620 funding for UV reduction in latest round of Community Shade Grants program

More communities will be protected from the sun's harmful UV rays, from the Andrews Labor government's Community Shade grants program helping communities to install shade in public areas such as sports clubs, parks, and playgrounds.

By news@gippsland - 18th October 2022 - Back to News

The Andrews Labor government's Community Shade grants program helps communities to install shade in public areas such as sports clubs, parks, and playgrounds. Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing announced that three community organisations across Gippsland will receive a total of $68,620 in funding from the latest round of the Community Shade Grants program.

Through the Community Shade Grants program, communities in Gippsland will also help them to be sun smart and prevent skin cancer

Grants recipients

Community Shade grants program recipients include:

Sale Tennis Club

Sale Tennis Club will receive $34,130 to construct a permanent shade structure between their tennis courts to provide shade and shelter for spectators, players, coaches, and administrators.

Glengarry Primary School

Glengarry Primary School, who will receive $18,500 for a shade sail to cover their new playground area.

Buln Buln Netball Club

Buln Buln Netball Club, who will receive $1,559 to construct a marquee to provide additional shaded areas for spectators and community members to enjoy.

The Shade Grants Program is part of the Labor government's skin cancer prevention election commitment to provide $15.1 million over four years in skin cancer prevention initiatives.

The program provides grants to build new shade structures, repair existing structures, or create natural shade by planting trees. Funding is also provided to purchase sun protective items including hats and sunscreen.

Preventing skin cancer

Good quality shade can reduce overall exposure to UV radiation by up to 75 per cent, and offers the best protection against harmful UV radiation when used in combination with other sun protective measures such as clothing, hats, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Through this program the government is supporting communities in Gippsland to keep active and enjoy the outdoors, while also helping them to be sun smart and prevent skin cancer.

Halving the proportion

In 2019, melanoma was the fifth most common cancer in Victoria with 2,841 new cases and sadly 270 deaths. The five-year survival rate for Victorians diagnosed with melanoma was 92 per cent in 2014-2018, compared to 69 percent for all cancers.

It forms part of the government's ambitious Victorian Cancer Plan 2020-24 which sets out a target to halve the proportion of Victorians diagnosed with preventable cancers by 2040.

Delivering shades

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing said, "These grants mean that Gippslanders will be able to enjoy the outdoors safely and comfortably with the necessary shade to protect them from the sun."

"We're delivering these shades to schools and community groups in Gippsland because it is a simple and positive way of helping local communities to stay safe, enjoy their neighbourhoods, and stay protected from harmful UV rays." Ms Shing said.

Pictures from Harriet Shing MP Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com