Lions Tasmania Skin Cancer Foundation
Our Mission
To provide a mobile skin cancer awareness vehicle to remote areas of Tasmania while promoting Lions International to the wider community.
how to donate
Attn: Lions Tasmania Skin Cancer Foundation Inc.
Bank: Westpac
BSB: 037608 | ACCOUNT: 845764
ABN: 76 464 648 80
Cheques: Lions Tasmania Skin Cancer Foundation Inc. PO Box 2, Launceston, TAS, 7250
Donations over $2.00 are tax deductible.
did you know?
- Australia has the highest rates of melanoma in the world with one Australian dying from the disease every six hours.
- Having regular skin checks will also help in recognising precancerous skin lesions and managing these prior to their development into skin cancers.
- Melanoma is the most common skin cancer in the young (15–39 years old), and Australia has the highest incidence of melanoma in the world.
Source: https://melanoma.org.au/ & https://macquarieskinclinic.au/
Timeline of the Lions Tasmania Skin Cancer Foundation
Nov 2022: District Convention approved the setting up of a committee to do a feasibility study for a skin cancer check facility.
Nov 2023: The skin cancer program was passed as a District Project at Convention. PDG Rob Mantach developed a constitution, prospectus and policy minutes and began working on developing the project as a charitable foundation
Nov 2024: Convention passed the Skin Cancer project as a foundation and accepted the constitution with the proviso that the budget be presented at the next convention.
Dec 2025: The board has been formed with one vacancy. A suitable vehicle has been found. A prospectus and budget were finalized and forwarded to all clubs.
Jan 2025: The foundation been assessed by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission as a charity and has Deductible Gift Recipient status.
Jan > Jun 2025: Prepare grant applications for LCIF, TLF, ALF and other philanthropic organisations. Request donations from clubs.
Apr > Aug 2025: Seek volunteers to be trained as dermoscopists, administration personnel and drivers.
Jul 2025: If funds available commence purchase of equipment and modification of proposed vehicle.
Jul > Nov 2025: Modify proposed trailer, purchase tow vehicle, generator, medical equipment, etc. Train dermoscopists.
Nov 2025: Launch project at convention.
Jan 2026: Project operational
Board Members & contacts
North West:
- Chairman: Richard Cochrane - 0455 500 314
- DG Victoria Cochrane - 0417 581 107
- 1VDG Matthew Tilling-Shakoff
- John McNab
- Tony Hine
North:
- Treasurer: PDG Rob Mantach - 0477 209 538
- Secretary: Linda Dilworth - 0438 633 915
- Jeff Harper
South:
- IPDG Rob Batchelor
- Michael Phillips
- Kerry Kievit
- Board member vacancy
Medical Director:
- Dr. Billie Saykao
budget & donors
BUDGET:
Capital cost: $87,500
Operational cost: $38,800
Total: $126,300
Funds raised as at end of May 2025: $54,985
MANY THANKS TO OUR DONORS SO FAR:
-
Rocky Cape Lions Club
-
Burnie City Lions Club
-
Bicheno Lions Club
-
District 201T1
-
George Town Lions Club
-
WD Booth Charitable Trust
-
Huon Lions Club
-
Wynyard Lions Club
-
Queenstown Lions Club
-
Deloraine Lions Club
-
Lilydale Lions Club
JUNE 2025 NEWSLETTER
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN, RICHARD COCHRANE
Welcome to the first edition of the Lions Tasmania Skin Cancer Foundation newsletter. I am excited to share our progress since the formation of the board last November. We still have one vacancy for a first year director in the South, so if you are interested, please get in touch with one of our directors.
We have received a lot of encouragement and support from the Victorian Skin Cancer Awareness Foundation, in particular from PDG Bruce Hudgson and PDG Pat Mills. They are all too willing to pass on their knowledge and experience.
I am encouraged by all the clubs who have donated so far, as well as those we have spoken to, in particular the district’s outlying clubs who do not have access to skin cancer facilities. I am also very excited to have on board our medical director, Dr. Selena Saykao from Hobart who has already provided excellent advice and guidance to us moving forward.
I have been talking to people in the local community, many of whom have expressed an interest in becoming a trained dermoscopist for our foundation. Trainee dermoscopists will need to have a nursing or medical background. If you or anyone is interested in learning more about training, or any other aspect of the project, please don’t hesitate to contact us. The details are in the box to your left.
I met a mate who surfs and lives down the West Coast at Marrawah who has had a skin cancer cut out recently. Needing to be checked every six months, he has to wait twelve months for an appointment at the Burnie clinic. Many people in remote areas find themselves in the same boat.
This is the ultimate service project that will operate across rural and remote areas of Tasmania, providing skin cancer awareness and demonstrating the strength of our Lions organisation. It is an exciting opportunity for all of us to join together in providing this service to our communities.
Look after the skin you’re in!!
Richard
A MESSAGE FROM THE TREASURER, PDG ROB MANTACH
I am pleased to be able to announce that the Lions Clubs International Foundation has approved a matching grant of $28 000 USD ($43 750 AUD). Documentation is being finalised. Grants from the TLF and ALF are still pending.
Rob
A MESSAGE FROM THE 201T1 DISTRICT GOVERNOR, VICTORIA COCHRANE
The development of the Tasmanian Lions Skin Cancer Awareness Facility project, and subsequent formation of the Lions Tasmanian Skin Cancer Foundation, is an important humanitarian project for Tasmania and one that I fully endorse.
As we have been promoting this important initiative to the community and Lions Clubs across the state, there has been overwhelming support from members and community leaders alike, notwithstanding the cost of and long wait times for checks in established skin cancer facilities.
Our sun is stronger in Tasmania – in my experience it only takes 10 minutes without sunscreen to burn. The statistics quoted in our prospectus are alarming and will probably only get worse unless we can be proactive and provide more opportunities for people to have skin checks that they may otherwise not have the time or money to afford.
This important humanitarian project will not only promote awareness of sun exposure and skin cancer in Tasmania, but also Lions International, our 45 clubs and members who work so hard to provide service to the Tasmanian community.
I highly endorse this project and the Skin Cancer Foundation as an important charity and service to the wider Tasmanian community. I encourage all clubs to get behind this fantastic district project.
Victoria Cochrane
DG T1 24-25
MEET OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR, DR. SELENA SAYKAO
Two out of three Australian will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime. As our community ages and sun exposure catches up with most of us, skin cancer will continue to be a growing problem for Tasmanians. Early detection and timely management can make a world of difference to an individual’s skin cancer treatment journey. Access, however to clinical expertise and services can be difficult, especially for those living in rural and remote locations in the state.
I am a General Practitioner with a special interest in skin cancer medicine. I practice in a dedicated skin cancer clinic in Hobart. Having trained at the Royal Hobart Hospital, the Launceston General Hospital and community general practices in both Hobart and Launceston, I have personally seen the staggering magnitude of skin cancer within our community.
Rural Tasmanians deserve access to skin cancer awareness and timely skin cancer treatment. This Foundation is well positioned to take trained health professionals to rural communities, raise skin cancer awareness and make a difference. It is fantastic to work alongside a highly-motivated team of Lions members to bring to life a critical health initiative. I'm thrilled to join the Lions Tasmania Skin Cancer Foundation as Medical Director—it's an honour to help drive real change and improve lives across rural Tasmania.
Selena
2024 DISTRICT CONVENTION SCREENING STATS
At the 2024 District Convention in Smithton, free skin cancer checks were offered to conventioneers. Of the 22 members checked, 50% were referred for further assessment and one melanoma was identified. 50% of participants had never been screened before.
WE'RE LAUNCHING AT THE 46TH 201T1 DISTRICT CONVENTION IN 2025
Plans are underway for Lion Sari-Elle Kraemer to launch the LTSCF through a publicity run over three days. Starting with a launch dinner in Smithton on Tuesday 4th November, Sari-Elle will begin a run from Smithton to Port Sorell on Wednesday the 5th, calling into Lions clubs and community centers along the way to raise awareness of and funds for our foundation.
This is a fantastic and exciting opportunity for Lions in Tasmania. Sari-Elle is best known for her marathon from Base Camp on Mt. Everest in 2024, which raised $126,000 for ALF compassionate grants and earned her a Melvin Jones Fellowship.
Most recently, Sari-Elle ran 90km from Licola Village to Traralgon, where she arrived on the Friday night into the public street event.
Sari-Elle is President of the Coogee Lions Club and works in public relations.
VOLUNTEER DERMOSCOPISTS
With the aim for our launch set for early 2026, the Lions Tasmania Skin Cancer Foundation is looking for suitably qualified medical professionals and those with appropriate medical knowledge and/or practice, including nursing and medical students, to register their interest in training as Volunteer Dermoscopists. The training is hoped to begin later this year.
The role of the dermoscopist will be to make members of the public aware of any suspect lesions on their skin and to recommend they receive a second opinion. Clients would be given a form noting their consultation/skin check in the visiting van advising of any findings. If a suspect lesion is identified the client would be recommended to visit their GP for further investigation/action. Our role is not to diagnose, just refer.
Acquiring in-depth knowledge in dermoscopy will enable suitably qualified medical personnel to assess the skin lesions with greater accuracy, detect potential melanomas in the early stages, and avoid unnecessary intervention. It will also provide an extra skill that can be useful in their practice moving forward.
Please contact Chairperson Richard Cochrane to register your interest.