Sun safety message receives much-needed financial boost ahead of peak summer season
Port of Newcastle (PON) has announced Hunter Melanoma Foundation (HMF) as one of its 10 community grant recipients to share in $100,000 in funding, securing the return of HMF’s highly successful Spot Check program in 2026.
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Port of Newcastle (PON) has announced Hunter Melanoma Foundation (HMF) as one of its 10 community grant recipients to share in $100,000 in funding, securing the return of HMF’s highly successful Spot Check program in 2026.
Executive Manager Corporate Affairs, Lucas Coleman, said the Port was thrilled to support the important work of Hunter Melanoma Foundation with $20,000 in funding as part of its 2025 Your Port, Our Community grants program.
“While the port and Newcastle may be synonymous with golden sand, sunshine, and glistening waters, unfortunately our region also has a concerningly high rate of melanoma,” Mr Coleman said.
“Safety is in Port of Newcastle’s DNA, and the potentially life-saving work Hunter Melanoma Foundation does to promote sun safety and early diagnosis, particularly through its free skin checks, is something the Port supports wholeheartedly.
“HMF’s Spot Check program is a wonderful example of how the Your Port, Our Community grants positively benefit people in our region.”
Australia has the highest incidence of melanoma in the world, with it being the second most diagnosed cancer in the Hunter New England Local Health District.
HMF Executive Officer Claudia Tolhurst said since launching in 2020, the Spot Check program has provided 2,724 free skin checks, identified 503 suspicious spots, and detected 114 suspected melanomas.
“If caught early, melanoma has a 90% cure rate, and providing our community with access to early detection remains central to our work,” Ms Tolhurst said.
“As a community-funded organisation, being able to partner with the Port of Newcastle means we can continue delivering our Spot Check program to the Hunter for another year.
“The Foundation is grateful for PON’s support and their shared commitment to reducing the impact of melanoma in the Hunter.”
HMF is one of 10 deserving community organisations across the Port’s catchment to be awarded community grant funding as part of the 2025 Your Port Our Community grants program. This program has provided more than $1.1 million in grant funding since its introduction in 2014.
“We received a large number of quality applications, which tells us there is still a strong demand for the services and support that charities, not-for-profits and other local organisations provide to their communities,” Mr Coleman said.
“With Christmas around the corner, we’re delighted to continue to support the important work of local organisations across our vast catchment, and we hope this news brings them both festive cheer and some certainty heading into the New Year.”
The organisations to receive grant funding from Port of Newcastle in 2025 are:
- Cerebral Palsy Alliance, to fund the fit-out of the accessible gym at their new Hunter Disability Centre in Beresfield, which will support therapy, health, and wellbeing programs for people of all ages with complex disabilities.
- Hunter Melanoma Foundation, to fund the delivery of free Skin Check Clinics and sun safety awareness in the Hunter.
- Home in Place, to run its ‘Curious Minds’ STEM workshops at schools in Newcastle, Cessnock, Dubbo, and Broken Hill.
- St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, to go towards restocking emergency staples at their Maitland and Newcastle hubs, providing direct client assistance through food and fuel vouchers, and supplying Christmas hampers to families doing it tough.
- Moree & District Historical Society Inc., to purchase a portable defibrillator for the Moree Plains Museum.
- Cancer Patients Foundation, to enable an additional 100 people in the Hunter New England Health District undergoing cancer treatment to take part in their ‘Look Good Feel Better’ program.
- Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation, to provide free lawn care for people undergoing breast cancer treatment in Cessnock, Singleton, Muswellbrook and Dungog.
- Country Universities Centre (CUC) North West, to deliver career pathway programs using VR technology that encourage students to explore career opportunities and tertiary education.
- Marine Rescue Lemon Tree Passage, to install public boating and water safety signage at their Emergency Services Hub.
- Variety – the Children’s Charity NSW/ACT, to fund children’s essential therapies, adaptive equipment and wigs in the Newcastle region not covered by government, NDIS, or Medicare.
The $100,000 in grant funding is in addition to the $1 million Newcastle Port Community Contribution Fund, which supports projects that revitalise the port and surrounding area, and is administered by the NSW Government.
For further information on Port of Newcastle’s Your Port, Our Community grants, visit pon.com.au/community-and-news/grants