SunSmart has net benefits

TENNIS Townsville’s latest holiday clinic carried the SunSmart message.

Young tennis players were shown some handy on- court tips during Thursday’s clinic, but most important of all was the lessons learned about staying safe while spending time under the North Queensland sun.

Called the Sid the Seagull clinic, children and parents were reminded about the importance of staying SunSmart when outdoors.

“The holidays always attract a lot of new children here and we want to educate them about sun protection right from the beginning,” said Tennis Townsville centre manager Liz Jones.

“A lot of sport, particularly tennis, is played outdoors and for long hours in the sun.

“We do not allow children on to the court without a hat, and we provide free sunscreen for them to use.

“By having someone like Sid the Seagull at the clinic, kids will be excited and motivated to learn about being SunSmart now and for the remainder of their lives.”

Cancer Council Queensland CEO Chris McMillan urged all Queens- landers to remain vigilant about sun protection.

“Sun safety is needed when the UV index is three or above – in Queensland, this is all year round,” she said.

“It’s great to see community organisations joining in on our initiatives and policies to encourage SunSmart habits from a young age.

“When outdoors, all Queenslanders should slip on protective clothing, slop on minimum 30+ broad spectrum, water- resistant SPF sunscreen, slap on a broadbrimmed hat, seek shade and slide on sunglasses.”