'Don't skip it': Local legends' message to other Aussie men

This content is sponsored by Cancer Council Australia and the Australian Government.

Let's be honest. If there's one thing the quintessential Aussie bloke cherishes, it's his stuff.

We're talking about that barbecue, polished until you can see your reflection, ever ready to sear a perfect steak. The trusty work ute - detailed and treated like a beloved part of the family. And, of course, the mower with its blades regularly sharpened to ensure that patch of green is the envy of the neighbours.

You pour time and devotion into these mechanical beauties because you know the golden rule: if we look after our things, they'll last a lifetime.

But, what about the single most important, irreplaceable piece of equipment you own? Your skin.

When it comes to defending our skin against the absolute hammering it can get from of the Australian sun, we blokes are seriously dropping the ball. We're currently not winning any medals for sun protection - in fact the reality is that we're twice as likely to die from melanoma as women. Ouch.

Why is that? Well, for a start, there's plain forgetfulness. Who hasn't been halfway out the door, remembered the Esky, the footy, and the keys, but totally forgotten the sunscreen, sunnies, and a decent hat?

Life moves fast, and it can be easy to overlook what may seem like little things. But here's the unvarnished truth: skipping out on sun protection is basically handing the Aussie sun a free pass to wreak havoc on your skin. But remembering to Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide is your ultimate armour against potentially deadly skin cancer.

This summer, let's put an end to this casual disregard of skin protection. We've chatted with some regional legends who love being outdoors - a coach, a horticulturist, a cancer specialist, a country music artist, and a zookeeper.

Discover the sun protection habits they've adopted to ensure their most important bit of gear - their skin - gets the legendary care it deserves.

"I'm a horticulturist, so I've spent a lot of my working life in the elements. I try to avoid working in the heat of the day; we work either early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

"I always wear a broad-brimmed hat - I have a solar panel on my head - long-sleeved shirts, UV sunglasses and sunscreen. I also wear zinc on my nose, lips and tips of my ears. I'm fair-skinned, so I reapply regularly. Habit and necessity are how I remember.

"I'm always advising my boys on skin-care practices and feel they have learned through modelling, and really feel it's about education and habit.

"My parents had a farming background, and it's just what you did - when I was a kid, I wore sunscreen and stayed in the shade as much as possible. Australia is a harsh, beautiful country. We just have to work with it and protect ourselves."

"I prefer to be outside, and with my job, I'm outside most of the day, so my main protocol would be to seek shade as much as possible, but also keeping up with the sunscreen. And our uniforms are high quality and offer good sun protection. We're lucky all our parks offer a lot of shade.

"We love the beach as well, so we always take shelters to sit under, hats, sunglasses and sunscreen for myself and the family. We're pretty religious about it.

"My parents were outdoorsy, so I grew up with sun safety being drilled into me, and now I guess I have that muscle memory, so I don't usually forget. At the park, we have sunscreen and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) positioned all around the place for workers, and we always stress the importance of sun safety to them."

"I try to spend at least a little time outdoors every day. Most of my working life is spent in the lab or clinic, but I've always loved the feeling of being outside - especially early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the light is softer. I enjoy walking, a bit of gardening, and the occasional long stroll around Lake Wendouree when the weather's kind.

"I grew up in Greece, where sunshine was simply part of life - children were outside from dawn till dusk. Back then, no one talked about UV or SPF; the sun was just the backdrop to everyday living. I suppose I've always carried that connection with me, even though these days I enjoy it in moderation.

"Having Mediterranean genes means I tan easily, but that can be misleading. Darker skin tones might burn less visibly, but they're not immune to damage. Over time, the sun can still age the skin and raise the risk of cancer - it just hides it better.

"Like most Australians of my generation, I've seen friends and colleagues go through skin cancer - some caught early and treated easily, others much more serious. It's sobering, and it really brings home the fact that no one is immune to this.

"Even with a Mediterranean complexion, years of unprotected exposure in your youth can catch up with you. Those experiences have made me very conscious of looking after my own skin and encouraging others to do the same.

"So I take no chances now. I don't head out without sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses, and if I'm outside for any length of time, I stick to long sleeves and seek the shade. It's common sense, really, but those small habits make a big difference.

"Once you've seen what chronic sun exposure can do to skin over time, you tend not to forget again. I keep sunscreen in the car, on my desk, and by the front door - and there's always a hat hanging somewhere nearby. Making protection part of your routine removes the effort from it. It becomes second nature, like brushing your teeth.

"When I was growing up, sunburn was almost a badge of honour - a sign you'd spent the day swimming or working hard outdoors. We didn't have the science or the awareness we do now.

"Now, I see sun safety as self-respect. You don't have to hide from the sun - just enjoy it wisely. Shade, sunscreen, timing, and clothing: simple measures that let you keep all the good the sun gives without the harm that comes from overdoing it."

"In my job, I spend maybe about six hours every day in winter and more in summer outside. I love what I do so much it's my work and my hobby!

"I come from Ukraine, where there is a lot of attention given to protecting your skin from the sun, so I have a very big focus on it - always sunscreen, long sleeves, sunglasses and a hat - it's ingrained in me.

"My kids know the rules too, as soon as we are in the car, the sunglasses go on, and they are always wearing sunscreen and hats, they have learned from when they were small.

"I would like to see everyone pay more attention to skin protection so we can create a better future."

"There was no advice available in the last century - in my younger years, coconut oil and excessive time bathing in the sun were what we all did!

"My wife is going through the removal of skin cancers at the moment.

"Her battle with skin cancer has definitely made me more careful with regards to protection. She has to regularly have things burnt off. Not a pleasant exercise!

"These days, I keep my exposure to the sun to a minimum. I go for a walk for an hour most mornings when the sun is not as potent and always wear a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses.

"I do avoid being outside in the middle of the day. I don't need any prompts for this regime - it's cemented into habit."

Arm yourself with these habits and make it a no-brainer to Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide whenever you head into the great outdoors, whether that's at work, at the beach, out fishing, in the garden or hanging out with mates around the barbie. Your skin, and your family, will thank you for it.

For more information about how to save your skin, visit cancer.org.au/save-your-skin