General News
14 March, 2026
Probus Club guest speaker features Mrs Judy Ferguson
Monday, March 2, 2026. The regular meeting of the Combined Probus Club of Hopetoun was held at the Hopetoun Co-operative Church Hall.
In the absence of our President, Alan Malcolm, and Vice President, Tony Naylor, Lorna Williams, Club Secretary, welcomed us all to our AGM and regular Probus meeting.
11 members attended, 8 apologies were noted.
Lorna then welcomed our newest member, Alan Edmonds, and presented him with his Probus badge.
1 guest attended, Susan Pearse, the Uniting Church Minister, and Guest Speaker, Mrs Judy Ferguson.
Coral Cox read the Probus prayer.
In the absence of our Entertainment Officer, Gwen Malcolm, Lorna Williams introduced this month’s Guest Speaker, Mrs Judy Ferguson, who spoke about her life as a Celiac sufferer, an Autoimmune Disease.
Gluten is a natural protein in many grains, including wheat, barley, rye and oats.
The immune response damages the villi lining the small intestine.
When damaged, the intestine cannot absorb nutrients properly - you can then become malnourished, and this may lead to cancer.
Unfortunately, this is an inherited disease and is passed on through the generations.
Judy was diagnosed 25 years ago, and feels she suffered from this disease for ten years prior to diagnosis.
This illness took her by surprise and changed her life forever.
Judy’s 3 sons have also inherited the gene that causes the issue, but these lucky men haven’t succumbed to Celiac Disease, thankfully.
Corn (maize) doesn’t contain Gluten. Judy has to read every label at the supermarket to watch for cross-contamination, e.g. you may even find Gluten in bolognese sauces bought off the shelf from supermarkets.
And if you have been served a wafer, stuck in gluten-free ice cream at a restaurant, don’t let them pull it out and serve that ice cream, as it has already been cross-contaminated and then all the pain will begin, for up to a week after.
At home, Judy has a pantry for gluten-free food and one for everyone else in the household.
Notably, Judy will only buy Whitewings corn flour as other brands can also contain traces of gluten.
When travelling, Judy carries a specially designed bag that she can put her bread into toast, and when having a BBQ, she uses Glad Bake sheets to stop any gluten cooked in other meats from contacting the food that she will consume.
It was a real delight to have Judy as our guest speaker, and Coral Cox thanked Judy and presented her with a Probus pen.
I would also like to acknowledge what a wonderful job Lorna Williams achieved running the 2 meetings and taking charge in the absence of Alan and Gwen Malcom. We also wish Alan a speedy recovery with his health.
Tony and Brenda Naylor were also missed, due to being flooded in at home with the 2 days of rain, which all farmers are welcoming.
It’s my delight to be Lorna’s assistant secretary, I am learning so much from you, Lorna, thank you heaps.
The General Meeting of the Combined Probus Club of Hopetoun will be held at Hopetoun Co-operative Church Hall at 9.30am on Monday, April 13, 2026, the second Monday on this occasion due to Easter Monday 6.4.26 public holiday.
New committee for 2026-27
In the absence of president Alan Malcolm and vice president Tony Naylor, Lorna Williams took the chair with Assistant Secretary Lisa Wilson taking on the Secretary’s duties.
A comprehensive report of the year's financial state was given by Treasurer Aileen Hofmaier. Secretary Lorna thanked all members for their input into the Probus year and declared all positions vacant.
The elected members were: president Alan Malcolm, past president Tony Naylor, secretary Lorna Williams, assistant secretary Lisa Wilson, and treasurer Aileen Hofmaier.
Other positions filled were Attendance Officer, Coral Cox, Ass. Attendance Officer Ada Gilchrist, Tour Director Brenda Naylor, Entertainment Officer Gwen Malcolm, Publicity Officer Lisa Wilson, Bulletin Officer Lorna Williams, and Probus Bowls Co-ordinator Ian Moore.
Annual Memberships were set at $25, and the joining fee was $15.
The Club is looking forward to another year of Fun and Fellowship.
– LISA WILSON