Rugby League immortal John Raper tells the story of his close call with melanoma skin cancer. Courtesy Melanoma Institute Australia

IT MAY just be a case of seasonal envy – we get the good weather, but in the northern hemisphere they get to wear the festive sweater.

Now Aussie swimwear company Kozii has given us the best of both worlds by releasing the “Ugly Xmas Rashie”.

The sun-protection rash vests, a cheeky Aussie adaptation of the Ugly Xmas Sweaters from Europe, with kangaroos replacing reindeers, will raise funds for Cancer Council Queensland.

“Unlike our northern hemisphere friends, we don’t get to don the classic ugly sweater,” Kozii owner Kay Shallcross said.

“So we decided to create a sun-safe ugly Christmas rashie for Aussies to wear this festive season.”

Miss World Queensland and TV presenter Hayley Picoto is an ambassador for the UPF50+ rash vests.

“I’ve had a lot of skin cancer problems in my family, so I’m all for sun safety,” she said. “They’re pretty loud shirts, but I’d rather cover up with an ugly Christmas rashie than be covered in ugly scars from having skin cancers cut out.”

Most of Queensland is set for a week of showers or clouds, with temperatures near or above 30C, but the Cancer Council warns even overcast skies are a skin cancer risk.

Council spokeswoman Katie Clift said with two in three Aussies diagnosed with cancer before the age of 70, she hoped the rash vests would become a new Aussie Christmas tradition.