Jenny’s story: Raising awareness of melanoma, on and off the green 

Jenny is a golf pro, a mum and a melanoma survivor who knows sun safety is always in season. 

Now she is sharing her story to lead change, particularly in the golf world where long hours in the sun is common. 

“I’m sharing my story because melanoma can happen to anyone,” Jenny says. 

A moment of curiosity and a life-saving decision 

 In February 2024, a casual drink and chat about skin checks with friends changed everything for Jenny. 

“I had a small lump on the back of my ear – I could feel it but not see it. A friend looked closer and urged me to get it checked. Right then and there, I booked an appointment for the following Monday,” says Jenny. 

It turned out to be the moment that changed everything. 

By the end of the week, Jenny was diagnosed with melanoma. The cancer had grown deep under her skin, requiring urgent surgery and lymph node removal.  

“The wait for results was agonising, but thankfully, the melanoma hadn’t spread. It was the biggest relief of my life.” 

At her 3 month follow up, a second melanoma was found on Jenny’s back. Luckily it was removed without major surgery. 

“I’ve been told it’s no longer if I’ll get another, but when,” Jenny says. “Now, I have skin checks every 3 months and walk in with nerves every time.” 

Raising awareness through golf 

As a PGA Professional and Director of Golf at Long Reef Golf Club, Jenny is now a role model for sun smart habits and recognises that prevention is key and it’s never too late to start protecting your skin.  

“I used to spend hours on the tee, sometimes without sun protection,” she admits. “Now, you’ll find me lathered in sunscreen, wearing long sleeves and with an umbrella on my buggy.” 

She’s also helped embed sun safety into club culture, saying “Our staff have unlimited access to sunscreen, our coaches wear bucket hats and we’re looking at shade structures for the teaching tee.” 

Jenny is proud to be part of Cancer Council’s ‘Improve Your Long Game’ program – helping golf lovers stay sun smart.  

“Our golf shop’s best-sellers used to be visors – now it’s bucket hats! We’ve placed free sunscreen at the 1st and 9th tees and I’ve noticed more members being proactive about sun protection,” says Jenny. 

She’s even encouraging other clubs to step up their sun smart game, too. 

According to Jenny, the key is to “Start small but make it visible. Offer free sunscreen at the tee, stock sun-safe apparel and get staff on board.” 

Get to know your skin and your risk 

While daily protection from UV radiation is the best defence getting to know your skin and early detection is also crucial. 

“Having a skin check could save your life. It’s easy to put off, but early detection is everything. As someone who spends so much time outdoors, I never thought it would happen to me – but it did,” says Jenny. 

Whether you’re hitting 18 holes or aiming for a ‘hole-in-one’ – make sun protection a daily habit.  

What does a melanoma look like? Find out about signs and melanoma symptoms or learn more about melanoma skin cancer.  

If you have questions about cancer, call Cancer Council on 13 11 20. 

Interested in the ultimate golf challenge to raise vital funds for Cancer Council’s research, prevention and support services? Register now for The Longest Day.