Our People
27 August, 2026
Maroona Hotel backs men’s health
MAROONA Hotel has joined with hundreds of other pubs across the state to back men’s health. Maroona Hotel along with the Hotel Care Foundation and Australian Prostate Centre (APC), has launched the ‘Protect a Legend Appeal’ across more than 200 pubs in Victoria.
Publicans across the state are stepping up to support men’s health by raising critical funds and awareness for prostate cancer research and patient care at the APC.
Pubs will be running a month-long fundraising effort – peaking on the night of the upcoming Four’N Twenty Legends Game for Prostate Cancer on Thursday, 27 August.
Participating venues like Maroona Hotel and the Leopold in Ararat will be hosting meat tray raffles, donation drives, live match screenings – and a whole lot more – offering families the ultimate local spot to soak up the pre-finals atmosphere while backing a life-saving cause.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting Australian men, with one in five diagnosed in their lifetime.
Maroona Hotel’s Mick McKerron and Jodie Sutherland say they were happy to support such a worthy cause.
“Every month we do a community group raffle, we offer it to a local group like a school, the CFA, we supply a meat tray and they supply the people and sell raffle tickets and all the money goes back to that particular group,” Mick said.
“This month Jodie saw the AHA are doing the prostate cancer fundraiser and we thought, bewdy, we jumped straight on board,” he said.
Hotel Care Foundation Chairman Mark Barson said the Protect a Legend Appeal is about harnessing that community spirit to tackle a disease that affects so many hotel regulars.
“We couldn't be prouder to see over 200 venues throw their weight behind this cause,” he said.
The son of AFL legend Ted Whitten has also backed the campaign to support people with prostate cancer.
Mr Whitten died of the disease in 1995 and his son, Ted Junior, said the campaign will help raise awareness about prostate cancer and help promote early detection.
“Losing my dad to prostate cancer changed our family forever. And while time moves on, the impact of that loss never really leaves you.
That’s why it’s so important we continue fighting for earlier detection, better care and life-changing research so more families can keep the legends they love in their lives for longer,” he said.
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