18 Oct 2016 North Central Review (Kilmore), Melbourne (General News) LOCAL schools in have received funding for shade protection in time for summer. Pyalong, Darraweit Guim and Flowerdale Primary Schools, along with Seymour College will share around $106,000. Upper House Member for Northern Victoria, Jaclyn Symes, announced the grants. Todays announcement is a fantastic result for local schools in Northern Victoria just in time for summer, Ms Symes said. Shade is a simple and effective way to protect ourselves from the sun and by doing so reduces the likelihood of sunburn and deadly skin cancer. Students know about being SunSmart sunscreen and hats are common place in the playground and with the help of these grants there will now be more safe shade options for our kids. The grants will be used to build new shade structures, repair existing shade, purchase portable shade or create natural shade by planting trees. Australia has the highest rates of skin cancer in the world and in 2014 melanoma was the fifth most common cancer in Victoria. Its estimated that 40,000 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in Victoria every year. Childhood and adolescence are periods where over-exposure to UV radiation is more likely to contribute to skin cancer later in life. Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence.