24 Feb 2016 Cobram Courier, Cobram VIC (General News) Fifteen community organisations and facilities in Moira Shire will receive funding to provide much-needed protection from harmful UV rays by increasing the provision of shade in the community. Three Cobram locations secured funding. Blackwood Park will receive $1035.80, Cobram Skate Park $4350 and Cobram and District Pony Club will receive $16 400. Pony club president Barb Clarke said being approved for the grant was welcome news. The grant will go towards putting up some natural shade with some trees around the north and west sides of our arenas, Mrs Clarke said. We will also be able to put up three shade sails, two that will hang over our grandstands and another to extend the shade from our club house. With so many people being in attendance to our events, the grant will also allow us to purchase four portable marquees which will be a huge help. Mrs Clarke said a lot of work went into getting the grant, as they took on the project as an independent body. We had to take aerial shots and projections to show where the shade was needed at our facility, she said. This will make a huge difference for us. A lot of our events are held during the hottest parts of the day, so extra shade was desperately needed. It is a great relief to receive it. State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said Australia had the highest rates of skin cancer in the world and in 2014 melanoma was the fifth most common cancer in Victoria. It is estimated 40 000 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in Victoria every year. Organisations throughout the Northern Victoria electorate will share in more than $200 000 worth of grant funds to use to build new shade structures, repair existing shade, purchase portable shade or create natural shade by planting trees, Ms Symes said. The grants can also be used to purchase hats and sunscreen to further protect the community from the harsh rays of the sun. Priority for grants has been given to country areas with high rates of skin cancer and mortality and areas of socioeconomic disadvantage. At least one grant was awarded in each of the 79 local government areas. We all love spending time outdoors but it is important we are adequately protected from the sun, especially between September and April when UV levels are high, Ms Symes said. These grants will provide our community with more shaded areas so everyone can enjoy their time outdoors safely. Caption Text: Cool in the shade: The Cobram and District Pony Club are the happy recipients of a shade grant. Copyright Agency licensed copy (www.copyright.com.au)