Sporting clubs take the Sun Safety Pledge
Date published: 23 November 2016
National Skin Cancer Action Week, November 20-26, is a timely reminder for people to protect themselves from the sun this summer.
According to Cancer Council Australia, two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70, so Townsville City Council has been encouraging local sport and recreation clubs to take the Sun Safety Pledge.
The pledge urges their members to take precautions when participating in outdoor activities.
Community Health and Environment Committee chair Cr Ann-Maree Greaney said more than 150 sporting clubs had signed up for the pledge.
“It’s great to see so many sporting groups take sun safety seriously and to encourage their own members to be sun safe,” Cr Greaney said.
“North Queensland offers a very hot, dry climate and taking the sun safety message seriously is very important.
“It’s vital that people use sunscreen, wear a hat, sunglasses and protective clothing and seek shade when outside.”
Clubs that registered for the Sun Safety Pledge went into the draw for one of eight sun-safe marquees.
An additional 10 organisations will receive 5L of SPF50 sunscreen to provide to their members and guests at club activities.
Marquee winners were:
- Tennis Townsville
- Corcoran Park Netball
- Free Radicals Tribe Triathlon Club
- Rockwheelers Mountain Bike Club Townsville
- Rugbytots Townsville
- Centrals ASA Senior Rugby League
- JCU Rugby Union
- Townsville Eagles
Sunscreen winners were:
- Townsville Picnic Bay Surf Lifesaving Club
- United suburbs junior rugby league
- Saints Cricket Club Inc
- Townsville City Autosports Club
- Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association
- Brothers Rugby Union Club (Townsville) Inc
- Brothers Touch Club Townsville
- Townsville Hockey Association
- Jots Tigers
- Townsville Junior Indoor Cricket
Winners will be officially given their marquees at the launch at Townsville Bulletin Square on Thursday, November 24 at 10am.
Luke Guazzo of Lancini Property and Development said they were proud to again be a sponsor of such an important community awareness campaign.
“We encourage local sporting groups to get on board and help to spread the important messages around sun safety,” he said.
Council will also set up a Get Active Marquee at Jezzine Barracks tomorrow afternoon, during the Fitness with Laura Geitz session, helping to educate the public about the sun safety message.
For more information visit council’s Active and Healthy section of the website.
