LOCAL LIFE
Support MIA ’ s Melanoma March Western Sydney SUNDAY MARCH 3 , 2024 • WEIR RESERVE
2024 Australians of the Year urge fellow Aussies to step up to stop the glamourisation of tanning and help reach zero deaths from melanoma .
Melanoma March events to be held across the country for 13th year to raise awareness and support Melanoma Institute Australia ’ s life-saving research Melanoma Institute Australia ’ s ( MIA ) Co- Medical Directors and 2024 Australians of the Year , Professor Georgina Long AO and Professor Richard Scolyer AO , are urging Australians to join the national Melanoma March campaign to raise vital research funds and add their voices to calls to stop the glamourisation of tanning .
Professor Long and Professor Scolyer were awarded the nation ’ s most prestigious honour , 2024 Australians of the Year , for revolutionising melanoma treatment and their advocacy for sunsafe behaviour . During their emotional acceptance speech , they called for urgent action to stop the glamourisation of tanning .
“ There is nothing healthy about a tan . Nothing . Our bronzed Aussie culture is actually killing us ,” Professor Long said .
“ So , we call on advertisers , and social media influencers - stop glamourising tanning , or using it to sell or entertain .
“ And our fellow Australians – when you see it , call it out , and demand change .”
“ Imagine the outcry if smoking was still glamourised like this ,” Professor Scolyer added .
“ We must elevate sun-safety to equal status as other lifesaving safety measures like seatbelts and helmets .”
Professors Long and Scolyer are asking fellow Aussies to amplify their calls for change by joining Melanoma Institute Australia ’ s national Melanoma March campaign . Family-friendly events will be held across the country during the month of March , with registrations now open at www . melanomamarch . org . au .
MIA ’ s Melanoma March Western Sydney will be held on Sunday , 3 March at Weir Reserve .
Lethbridge Park mother Rachel Reynolds ’ husband Stewart passed away from melanoma at the age of 43 .
“ It ’ s so important you get your moles checked and act quickly if you see anything untoward . Time is of the essence in ensuring you get the right treatment . Thankfully , now there are many more treatment options available than 17 years ago , when Stewart was diagnosed .
“ The Melanoma Marches have raised so much awareness and much needed funding for research , but we need to continue to advance both the way Australians have a relationship with the sun and treatment options for melanoma patients .”
Organised by volunteer committees impacted by melanoma , the Melanoma March events raise vital funds for melanoma research , which will also impact other cancers , and provide an
Gary More , Angel Warner , and Alex and Rachel Reynolds .
opportunity for patients and families to come together to support each other and remember those lost to the disease .
This year ’ s campaign also aims to shine a spotlight on the dangers of tanning and the need for greater investment in national prevention strategies .
Australia has the highest melanoma rates in the world . One person is diagnosed with melanoma every 30 minutes and one person dies from the disease every six hours . It is the most common cancer affecting 20 – 39-year-old Australians .
“ Changing attitudes towards tanning and improving the community ’ s understanding about prevention , early detection , and year-round sun safety is crucial to stopping more lives being cut short by melanoma ,” said MIA CEO Matthew Browne .
Those who can ’ t attend an event can still support the campaign by getting active and hosting a March Your Way activity with friends or individually .
To register or donate to Melanoma March , go to www . melanomamarch . org . au
Lunar New Year in Blacktown City
Blacktown City has welcomed the Year of the Dragon with a spectacular Lunar New Year Celebration at the Chang Lai Yuan Chinese Gardens in Nurragingy Reserve , Doonside . An estimated 25,000 people turned out to enjoy four hours of cultural activities , food and entertainment . Lions and dragons wound their way through the large crowds , face painting delighted the kids and a wide range of Asian foods were available at the many stalls next to the Chinese Gardens .
There was a Chinese variety show , Japanese drummers , Japanese calligraphy workshops , fan painting , traditional music and dance from a number of Asian cultures . The celebrations culminated in a spectacular fireworks display . Blacktown City Mayor , Tony Bleasdale OAM told the big crowd ; “ We pride ourselves in being one of the most diverse cities in Australia with more than 415,000 people representing more than 180 nations and languages .”
“ Blacktown City is enriched by the many wonderful cultures and people from Asia who have found a home here .”
Blacktown City is home to people from many nations that celebrate Lunar New Year including ; China , Korea , Malaysia , Nepal , The Philippines , and Vietnam .
Chang Lai Yuan Chinese Gardens was constructed in 2007 by Blacktown City Council and Liaocheng Municipal Government in China , as a gesture of friendship between the two sister cities .
12 ISSUE 36 // MARCH 2024 theindependentmagazine . com . au BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT