WA-Made Company Supports Skin Cancer Centre

April 5th, 2006 - Media Statement

A national finance company originally started in WA has joined the battle against melanoma.

One of Australia's largest non-bank lenders, Homeloans Ltd, has provided a cash injection to the Scott Kirkbride Melanoma Research Centre, based at the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR) in Nedlands.

Homeloans' National Marketing Manager Alexandra Curr said the publicly-listed company was dedicated to promoting awareness of the insidious form of skin cancer that affects many Australians.

"With ever-rising numbers of Australians being diagnosed with melanoma, including young Australians, our team decided it was time to get behind the search for a cure," he said.

"Contribution to the wider community is a critical part of our business, and we could not think of a better cause to support."

"Melanoma is the third most common form of cancer in the country, so unfortunately, thousands of Australians and their families are affected by it every year - if we can help save even one life it will be worth it."

WAIMR Director Peter Klinken said the contribution would aid research that could lead to the creation of genetic and blood tests to predict a person's likelihood of developing melanoma.

"Developing such tests is one of the major goals of the Scott Kirkbride Melanoma Research Centre - and it's great to know that WA and Australian companies will play a part in that quest," said Professor Klinken.

The Centre was established in March this year in memory of Scott Kirkbride, a young Mt Claremont golfer who died from melanoma in December 2004 at the age of 27.

It's been set up to investigate the genetic causes of skin cancer, one of the most deadly and prevalent forms of cancer.

The Centre has been made possible through fundraising efforts by the Kirkbride family, their friends and a generous commitment by the University of WA.

For more information please contact:
Natalie Papadopoulos
Media Consultant for the WA Institute for Medical Research
Mobile: 0407 984 435
Office: (08) 9381 8237