Spinifex State College was one of the 45 high schools across Australia to receive the funding through the Cancer Council’s Shade for Secondary Schools grant program.

From Monday, students at the college’s junior secondary campus were benefiting from more shade at their school. 

“We are delighted to unveil our two new shade structures at our junior secondary campus,” principal Denise Kostowki said on Monday. 

“These shade structures make our learning environment inviting and sun-safe.

“I would like to express my gratitude to Cancer Council and EFTPOS and Mrs Cameron for her leadership in making this project a reality.”

The response to the 2013 Cancer Council’s Shade for Secondary Schools grant program was overwhelming with one in eight secondary schools across Australia applying for the unique grant, which was funded by a $1 million donation from eftpos, as part of its Giveback program.

Professor Ian Olver, the chief executive of Cancer Council Australia, says that the new shade structure will help fill a gap when it comes to adolescents and sun protection. 

“Melanoma is the most common cancer in young Australians aged 12 to 24 years, with more than double the number of cases of any other kind of cancer,” he said.

“Without access to proper shade at lunch time, when UV levels often peak, our teenagers are put at risk of developing skin cancer in the future.

‘‘However, we know that if the shade is there, they will use it.”

Australian test cricket captain and Cancer Council SunSmart ambassador Michael Clarke spoke of the importance of remaining vigilant throughout your teenage years. “Speaking from personal experience, I know how important it is to be sunsmart,” he said.

“I remember my school days, lots of cricket and lots of sun.”