Former Home and Away star Holly Campbell who is now acouncilor on the Wingecarribee Council in the Southern Highland has lost a bid to take out an AVO (Apprehended Violence Order) against reporter Cristian King from the local newspaper LatteLife Southern Highlands.
Magistrate
Mary Ryan refused to uphold the application and stated that King, who defended himself in court, was
simply doing his job as a reporter on the 2 occasions he asked Cr
Campbell questions following council meetings and that his
actions did not warrant her being in fear of her life. Cr Campbell had posed for Cristian at a social event less than a week ago. During
cross examination by King aged 20, the photograph of Cr Campbell smiling was submitted as evidence and she
was asked, "what emotion does your face in that photograph display"? At a prior court date Cr Campbell asked Magistrate Ryan if she could
stop LatteLife from printing because they ' say bad things about me'.
The Magistrate reminded Cr Campbell that "we live in a democracy and as
an elected official she should get used to it."
Bunya Hill
# For the benefit of our many overseas readers : the beautiful Southern Highlands is a couple of hours drive from Sydney and is the most expensive country property in Australia. With it's green rolling pastures and numerous antique shops in picturesque villages it attracts many of Australia's wealthiest citizens who own weekend retreats. Superstars Nicolle Kidman and Keith Urban own the former governor's residence Bunya Hill,Harry Potter actress Miriam Margolyes spends most of her spare time there while the late Lord McAlpine owned a magnificent property with award winning gardens. #Whispers is a contributor to LatteLife and once produced glossy videos and real estate brochures of Southern Highland's properties in conjunction with the late Bill Ranken.
Nearly fifty close friends and relatives gathered yesterday afternoon on a sunny day at the property Lockyersleighnear Goulbourn to celebrate the life of the late Bill Ranken latterly known as a social photographer covering the Sydney scene. Bill led two lives, weekdays in Sydney at his Elizabeth Bay apartment and on alternate weekends he would travel to his beloved Lockyersleigh where he was raised, to plant and water trees, stock lakes with ducks and tend to cattle and sheep. Lockyersleigh is regarded as one of NSW 's most desirable country estates and has been in the Ranken family for 3 generations. Now managed by Ranken's nephew Matthew Onions, it has award winning gardens that are open to the public at various times and Bill was rightly proud of the estate. Most guests at yesterday's get-together were the sort of country folk Bill had known all his life, the backbone of the rural community. Amongst city visitors, Di Hamil, public relations expert Deidre O'Loghlin, model agent Grant Dwyer and newspaper executive Cristian King who had nursed Bill during his final days.
One of the leading lights of the Sydney social scene, Bill Ranken has passed away at age 85 after a brief fight with cancer.
Bill was known for the last 10 years or so as a photographer and a must addition to any smart party or red carpet launch but his life was one of great variety in many different occupations.
Brought up on the family estate near Goulburn, Ranken lost interest in working on the property when a tractor accident cost him the sight in one eye.
Whispers first encountered Bill over 30 years ago when he arrived at a Mayfair art gallery on the arm of the late Princess Margaret causing gossip as perhaps her latest flame with his tall elegant looks. "Landed gentry from Australia" was legendary Daily Mail gossip columnist Nigel Dempster's description when asked who Margaret's date was.
Chatting with Bill at the launch- an exhibition of artists Gilbert & George's huge canvas depicting bodily functions he leaned over to the Princess and quipped: "for God's sake don't look too closely Margaret, it will put you off the champagne".
Commenting that we were soon leaving for Sydney to live, Bill retrieved a business card from his wallet- he always carried a variety from his different jobs -and a phone call 6 months later started a long friendship of nightly telephone "debriefings" as we called them, to chat and laugh about everyone and everything that had happened during our day.
Ranken was often far grander than those he photographed. As co-owner with his sister Jean of two of the most desired country properties in the state, he was a millionaire many times over but few seem to know. With houses on both properties at Gunning and Goulburn, Bill lived an almost monkish style life usually bedding down in the working men's quarters in a barn. When not planting trees or retrieving lost sheep he loved to check on his favourite animals, ducks, which he had installed in the various lakes.
In Sydney he lived in an Elizabeth Bay apartment and breakfasted at one of the local cafes sipping Green Tea which he swore kept him youthful.
A man of great contrasts he had an innate ability to talk to anyone and everyone no matter their status and make each feel important. He would laugh that he sat next to former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser at the snobby Tudor House prep school. "God Malcolm was boring when he was young" Bill would say and Fraser would return the compliment saying to Bill "you give our class a bad name" referring to Bill's admitted snobbishness But he was anything but.
In the morning he may have a quick chat with a Kings Cross stripper, hooker or a nightclub bouncer on their way home after a night's work. In the afternoon he could be chatting to Barry Humphries at a Double Bay cafe while later that evening he might be dining with Princess Mary of Denmark.
Meeting a new young artist, actor, singer perhaps a budding caterer Bill was always happy to delve into his extensive list of contacts and help in anyway he could. With a natural kindness and expecting nothing in return, there are numerous now famous names who pay tribute to Bill's ability to point them in the right direction after a chance meeting. Always alert to meeting an interesting new person on the circuit he could also be cynical at times : "if Jesus Christ came through the Heads I'd want to know who his PR agent is" he once said.
At a social functions it was no surprise to hear Rupert Murdoch or Kerry Packer or the latest Prime Minster say : "Hi Bill, I need to talk to you about some rural matters" on which he had an encyclopedic knowledge.
For Bill life was never meant to be boring and each day brought an incident to be laughed at and crafted into an amusing anecdote. Even his 6am run from Kings Cross to Double Bay (right up until the last 6 months) brought a tale to tell. He recounted that he was once taking a breather in Rushcutters Bay Park when 2 large policeman emerged from the bushes dragging a naked, wild looking man. "There's my pal Bill Ranken" cried the man who Bill swore he did not recognise. As the nude felon was bundled into a Paddy Wagon he yelled "Bill, please call my solicitor Sir Laurence Street!"
When the Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared off the Victorian coast in choppy seas in 1967 Bill was disappointed that he had turned down an invitation to accompany the swimming party: "I would have liked to have seen that Chinese sub" said Bill.
Whispers worked with Bill on many different projects, an airline magazine, Penthouse Magazine after owner Bob Guccione who had flown into town to launch the local edition spotted Bill at the launch party and told the editor: "hire that man immediately as our social correspondent", plus a variety of newspapers. At one stage he put his rural upbringing to good use as the Rural Consultant for the late real estate agent Andrew Gibbons where he advised on properties for identities like Lady Susan Renouf and Lord McAlpine. He nearly got caught in an embarrassing episode when Gibbons asked him to bid during the auction of a harbour side mansion which was knocked down to Ranken for $5M while he wasn't paying attention. He quickly exited out a side gate pursued by the property media.
Whispers produced some of the first real estate videos for Gibbons with Bill fronting the camera. When the visiting British film director Michael Winner expressed interest in purchasing a local property and watched one with Bill extolling the virtues of a Moss Vale estate Winner said "oh bugger the house, I want that man in my next film".
On another occasion he was flown first class to Tonga by the late King George Tupou V who asked Bill to advise on his flock of sheep. Arriving at the airport he was met by the King's limo, a London taxi and driven to a bungalow to be shown just 6 forlorn looking ewes in a small paddock. "Shoot the lot" was Bill's advice.
Taking up photography gave him a reason to be at a party. Bill loved parties even though he rarely drank. He could tell you anecdotes from parties from the 1950s onwards and it gave him a good reason to chat to a pretty girl. Often after asking her name he would exclaim "I took your mother out". Sometimes it was true but in later years that became "I think I took your grandmother out". He dreaded there may come a time when he might be saying he took their great grandmother out.
A few months ago Bill complained of a back pain and uncharacteristic weakness. Diagnosed first as a virus it was eventually found to be liver cancer.. Always practical he said : "I just want go to one of those rest homes where they'll fill me full or morphine until I shuffle off ".
For a while he was cared for by newspaper executive Cristan King in his Bowral home but the cancer got the better of him and Bill died last Thursday. He leaves behind his beloved sister Jean and nephew Matthew and will be missed by many people as another bright light in Sydney is dimmed.
****************************
This was Bill Ranken's favourite song and one he thought summed up his life. From Noel Coward:
A chapter in Sydney's social history ends today as Man About Town and social snapper Bill Ranken hangs
up his camera to retire to his country property. Home for Bill now is a
magnificent sheep and cattle property about 3 hours from Sydney and
just outside Goulbourn.
Lockesly has been in the family for several
generations and is regarded as one of the finest properties in NSW with
it's Georgian house, beautiful gardens and acres of rolling hills.
Bill, at 86 years of age still takes an active hand on weekends,
planting trees and sorting sheep. He will also pen his memoirs.
It's great loss for Whispers not only as a valuable source but someone who we spoke to almost every night to 'debrief' each other on the day's activities.
With
Bill's keen sense of a humour and his ability not to take anything
seriously- most especially himself, we could chat & laugh for an
hour each night exchanging delicious titbit's which could not possibly
be used in print.
Whispers first met Bill Ranken many moons ago at the Mayfair Gallery in London when he arrived
as the escort of the late HH Princess Margaret.
Peering at one of British painters Gilbert & George's giant canvases that detailed -well best to look up their history of painting- we overheard Bill saying to Margaret :"don't look too closely dear or it may put you off the canapes and champagne".
The Sydney & Southern Highland's newspapers LatteLife have penned a farewell piece to Bill which gives more insight into the life of this fascinating chap:
Nicole & Keith Matt Handbury Reg Grundy Miriam Margolyes James Fairfax
It's like a roll call of Australia's most powerful citizens : businessmen like billionaire poker machine king Len Ainsworth, properly mogul Theo Onosforou, show biz giants Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Miriam Margolyes and Reg Grundy, publishing family scions James Fairfax and Matt Handbury, horse trainer Gae Waterhouse and artists John Olsen and Tim Storrier.
Bill Ranken John Olsen Theo Onosforuw Len Ainsworth Tim Storrier
With the stunning success of two movies featuring the Big Goanna- Kerry Packer, comes a new mini-series Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch Story that features a young Rupert Murdoch going into battle over publishing deals with Sir Frank Packer, Kerry's father. Lachy Hulme (right) stars as Frank Packer (he also played Kerry ) and Rupert Murdoch is played by Patrick Brammel. Some legendary Australian political figures feature in the series as well including Black Jack McEwen along with actresses playing Anna Torv, Rupert's wife No 2 (before Wendi Deng) and Lady Florence Packer, Sir Frank's second wife who died this year in Monte Carlo and Ros Packer, Kerry's widow and mother of James Packer.
Anna Torv & Lady Flo Packer
The Shuttle turned for some background to regular contributor Bill Ranken (right) grazier and man-about-town who at 84 has known all these characters over the years. Ranken reports Sir Frank Packer was almost persona non grata in Sydney society with many considering him to be fairly rough around the edges "not that I think he was much interested in Sydney's social scene. I think he thrived on the rough and tumble of business but Kerry was extremely popular and known for his generosity and loyalty towards retired staff : Kerry could be a big softie and he was generous with charities and rarely sought recognition for it. There must be thousands of people who should be grateful Kerry went into bat to retain St Vincent's Hospital when developers were eyeing off the property. I always recall traveling through a county town with Kerry and we came across a car accident where fortunately no-one was hurt. But a local tradie was distraught because his van was destroyed and he had no insurance. Kerry jotted down his details- the chap didn't have a clue who he was- and then a week later the local rag reported how a generous but anonymous benefactor had replaced the tradie's van. Typical of Kerry !". As for Rupert :"pretty boring really, never saw him at parties, Don't think he was that keen on the night life.".
Ranken, who owns one of the state's finest cattle properties also dated Ros Packer before she met Kerry and he described Clyde Packer, Kerry's brother, as a jovial figure : "we regularly toured Sydney's nightspots in Clyde's Rolls Royce convertible with more and more attractive ladies joining the tour as the night wore on. Clyde was once stopped by police who deemed the Roller over-crowed and as a fairly large and rotund man, he astonished the coppers when he emerged from the Rolls in a flowing kaftan. When they noted his name- he was also an MP then, they proceeded to give us a police escort to Kings Cross". They were the days !
Fun loving Sydney resident and ex-Spice GirlMel B has found new digs in the ritzy Eastern Suburbs after tiring of her harbour-side house which has become well known to the media.
Jane King
Mel and hubby Stephen Belafonte hope for more privacy and to shield their family from the gaze of paparazzi Jamie Fawectt. Mel has already obtained an interim apprehended violence order (AVO) against the photographer.
Alas, Melanie has moved into the orbit of the local newspaperLatte Life. Editor Jane King discovered the identity of her new neighbours when she went to see why her 2 children were dancing in the garden of her Vaucluse house to the strains of Wannabe. There was Mel and her brood, sunbathing on their balcony in full view of the King house. Fortunately a regular visitor to the King home, Latte Life social photographer Bill Ranken (right) is far too much of a gentleman to photograph Mel from over the back garden fence. He's very observant though. Mel. you have been warned. below : the Spice Girls and Wannabe:
One of the regular gripes of the Shuttle is today's new breed of 'publicists', PRs or whatever they are called these days. Usually coming armed with a degree from somewhere. Apart from a few notable exceptions they can be arrogant, grand and basically clueless about the job they do.
All three contributors to the Shuttle have worked in the media and with publicists in New York, London, LA, Paris, Melbourne or Sydney with about 100 years of experience between us.
Without a doubt, Sydney has the grandest PRs of them all.
We've inter-acted with publicists in London and New York who handle some of the biggest names in the movie business and some of the most successful products and brand names in the world. They are on the whole professional. polite, knowledgeable about their product and the business and most especially, the media. In Melbourne or Adelaide they will be far better mannered.
Hand in hand with this lot come a few photo agencies who have corrupted the entire process, stacking press shoots, promotional functions, movie premieres and so on with part-time aggressive , arrogant photographers armed with digital cameras and with nil interest in the subject. It's all about money.
A perfect example of how today's publicists really fail on the job is when one of Australia's most senior and most respected photographers and Shuttle contributor Bill Ranken telephoned both Myer and David Jones about their recent Spring/Summer fashion parades.
You would think that Ranken representing the local newspaperLatte Life that circulates throughout the well heeled suburbs of Sydney's Eastern suburbs, to the most wealthy streets and residents in this country, to readers with wallets stacked with cash and credit cards to spend on fashion, would be welcomed to join the ranks of the scruffs in the media pen. Alas, he was 'too late' according to a PR operative.
Darryn Lyons
At 83 years of age there is a very good reason for having Ranken cover your event. Like Bill Cunningham in New York. he knows everybody and their mother (and often dated their grandmother). It's an important factor. Meanwhile the Shuttle was there and noted 2 photo agencies had at least 8 snappers between them in a sort of scatter gun approach of garnering photographs of today's instant 'celebrities' from every conceivable angle. We've searched high and low and not one single picture they took has been published. One newspaper photographer, a regular on the scene, walked off in disgust as he was asked time and time again the name of each person he snapped, by the paparazzi.
You have to feel sympathy for Tina Aldiss, a publicist at Mango PR who wrote an article for the media website Mumbrella. Tina was commenting on the current woes at Fairfax Media where up to 1900 workers are to be laid off over the coming years. News Ltd will do likewise. The Shuttle has been quizzing hacks and snappers from both organisations and the fear and loathing is palpable.
Tina reckons when printed newspapers crash and burn her job flogging Arnott's biscuits and McDonald's Chicken burghers will be that much easier as she harnesses net power.
In the mean time the comments section has gone ballistic attacking poor Tina with most thinking her timing is a bit off.
The lines between reporting and publicising were blurred well over two decades ago and it's gotten worse. The Shuttle has worked both sides of the fence and gave up trying to think in terms of ethics years ago and decided to concentrate on survival.
Our only gripe is the attitude of Australian PRs and publicists ( Sydney ones are the worse.. Melbourne publicists are far better mannered). Many come across as far grander that the product they are flogging yet are really quite ignorant when it comes to inventive publicity.
Charlotte Dawson, Sarah Murdoch & Alex Perry at the WALL.
Hence the rise of the tiresome photographic/publicity board that pops up at every event from a blockbuster movie premiere to a minor beauty product launch.
And the press section will be crammed with paparazzi with sometime half a dozen working (unpaid and only on commission) for one agency who reckon the scatter gun approach will get sales. Amass hundreds of snaps of the same celebrity in varying poses and a handful might sell.
Regular Shuttle contributor Bill Ranken (right) who knows just about everyone in town and probably dated their grandmothers (at 81 years of age) discovered this recently at a charity bash for a children's hospital.
He was snubbed at the entrance by a bright-eyed 20 something publicity operative who scolded him for missing the 'wall' and scoffed at the idea guests could be photographed whilst sitting at tables. The fact the guests were the same people we all see day after day, week after week in this town was incidental.
And the problem is not really that Tina Aldriss is just stating the obvious, newspapers and magazines are responsible for blurring the lines and you can't blame a publicist for taking advantage of the fact.
Rupert Murdoch's Daily Telegraph has long been criticized for it's Sydney Confidentialpages which resemble at times, a series of press releases full of inane information. It's significant that the former top Packer PR and journalist Annette Sharp has now been given her own Saturday edition spread and is delving into the lives of anyone who isn't Lady GaGa or Beyonce in an obvious move to challenge er rivals-not that it should be too hard.
As for the Shuttle, we have been shameless at times and never let accuracy get in the way of a good publicity campaign.
Years ago we travelled to New York with the UK Daily Express'William Hickeycorrespondent, the late Timothy Swallow and set up shop in a suite at the Waldorf Astoria in order to interview US celebrities for a series of show biz style books commissioned by a top promoter.
One day we went to a Times Square cinema to see the just released Mommie Dearest with Faye Dunnaway starring as Joan Crawford. Hollywood had boycotted the film, the star and producers deeming it a treacherous portrayal of a Hollywood legend.
We loved it.
At one point in the movie Joan beats her children late one night after discovering their wardrobes contained wire coat hangers (apparently Joan had a thing about wire hangers), screaming "NO WIRE COAT HANGERS !!!"
That night over cocktails at Studio 54 (working our way through our generous expenses allowance) we concocted a story that groups of fans were attending theatres and when the scene appeared, would wave wire coat hangers in the air. The Daily Express duly ran the tale which was picked up and swept the world's newspapers and TV news broadcasts.
Life imitated art and soon people were appearing at cinemas and doing just that. Not only had we created a movement (and a Wikipedia page), we had given the ailing flick a million dollar boost in free advertising by propelling it into the mass media.
All for the cost of a few drinks !
The social bible of Sydney's swish Eastern Suburbs, Latte Life has launched a very special contest-they're giving away free men. Not to keep permanently mind you (although anything is possible) but as a date for Valentine's Day. There is someone for everyone in this quest and every age group is catered for.
For the older sophisticated lady we have Latte Life's society spy (and sometime Shuttle contributor)bachelor Bill Ranken ( below ) who gives his age as 'vintage'!.
A few tips here girls : do not be fooled-Bill may drive a small battered car he calls 'Snoopy' and live in a fairly small pad in Elizabeth Bay weekdays, but he does own two of NSW's most desirable grazing properties in the Southern Highlands, Nerida and Lockesly,both with very grand houses on them and some friendly neighbourslike Miriam Margoyles, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban
And his contacts are impeccable. Bill is on a first name basis with the Packers, Murdochs, Fairfax's, Waltons, Hordens , Graces..just about every family that comes with a brand name, a media empire or a few department stores. He lunches with Frank Lowy who owns the worldwide Westfield Shopping Malls chain, and he often escorted the late Princess Margaret to society events in London. Bored, is one thing you will never be with Bill
For the sporty girl Porsche Racing Car Driver/Entrepreneur, Aaron Zeferos, 28 is up for grabs and the girls may have a bit of a fight on their hands for male model, Mark Whittington, who is just 22 and has that all important six pack and a top sponsor The Star Casino in Pyrmont
Mark Whittington
Maurie Brancato
Another athlete is available, David Bell 43 who is Business Owner of OZUP Paddleboards .
Next up is one for ladies who lunch and have their hair done ( a Bay daily ritual) / Celebrity Hair Stylist, Maurie Brancato, 23 of La Boutique.
Win him and you could become the fodder for gossip under the dryers for weeks to come. It could do wonders for the image.
And here is a real bloke for you gels with healthy bodies (or a healthy appetite) from Premium Fitness Studio in Double Bay- Michael James.
As Latte Life's editor Jane King explains :
‘I
was tired of all the desperate man shortage reports about the Eastern
Suburbs so decided to find 6 of the best to run as dates in a Valentines
Date competition ,pretty much as soon as we put the word out we were on
the prowl for some dishy dates we
had a long list of applicants to chose from, we decided on the
following for Ladies of the East to enter to win a Valentine date with;
There is no shortage of available men in Double Bay..
To read the rules on how to win your male for a day you will need to pick up the latest copy of Latte Life now on the streets. Do hurry as although over 37000 are distributed they are snapped up fast. Or go to their website : www.lattelife.com.au
It's generally one of the quietest times of the year with
just the Sydney Festival providing some light relief but last week was fairly
eventful for the normally deserted Paddington and Double Bay.
Najib Razak & Rosmar Mansor
The Shuttle became embroiled in a minor fracas in Paddington
mid-week as we motored through the back streets and emerged onto William
Street, the tiny thoroughfare of smart boutiques (Gail shopped there for
chocolates for Oprah Winfrey when they were in town) to find the street blocked by a fierce looking black limousine- the four wheeled drive
variety now so beloved of today's celebrities. With two sunglass wearing black
suited gentleman blocking the traffic.
A full five minutes past before these self-appointed traffic
wardens graciously allowed the mounting traffic to pass, with a furious waving
of the hands as we inched our way past the shop and peered in to see who it was
that may have commanded such pomp and ceremony
King of Tonga
One report appeared today stating that Rosmar Mansor the wife of the Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak
happened to be shopping in Paddington that very day
But the plot thickens.
A report arrives that a similar vehicle was seen idling
outside an upmarket boutique in Double Bay the same afternoon. A well-known
paparazzi reports that as he began to take photographs of an "Asian looking" lady
who emerged from the shop and headed for the limo, he was suddenly confronted
by a pistol packing minder telling him to buzz off.
Co-incidentally word spread through the Bay that the
daughter of the Tongan rulers His Majesty King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV and Her
Majesty Queen Halaevalu Mataaled was on a shopping spree in Double Bay that day as well. Such excitement!
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Queen Margrethe
Meanwhile the crowned heads of Europe gave e their collective tiaras an outing at a grand party at Christiansborg Palace Chapelin Copenhagen
to celebrate Queen Margrethe II of Denmark's 40 years on the throne.
Naturally
the popular former Tasmanian Crown Princess Mary was featured along with a
variety of dethroned and serving royal heads such Pavlos & Mary-Chantal of
Greece (they have no last name-so chic!) Queen Silvia and King Gustav of Sweden
and Queen Sonja of Norway.
There is a Shuttle connection to Queen Margretthe. In her 20s she shared a flat in London with Jean Onions, the sister of Shuttle
contributor Bill Ranken.
And we have an exciting exclusive on the British Royal Family.
According to one report HM the Queen will announce her abdication at her Jubilee
celebrations later this year and handover to Prince William. No King Charles or
Queen Camilla-they are to by-passed for the younger and more glamorous Wills and
Kate.
Sadly we note this must read glossy website no longer appears to feature our favourite minor German aristocrat Frederic Prinz von Anhalt as a show biz writer.
Married to the ailing Zsa Zsa Gabor, perhaps he has other things on his mind.
************************
And here is a snap that young Jack Vidgen sent us from the red carpet at last week's G'Day Ball in LA. Tonight he sings at the New York G'Day Ball.. he sent the following message :
" The
New York Gday USA Ball is tomorrow night.. Loved the LA one so much am
really excited for this one.!! The other acts were so awesome in LA, Guy
Sebastian is going to be performing as welll. Will be great to see him! It was FREEEEEZING in New York today! Apparently it's meant to snow tomorrow so i better rug up lol Am flying to Houston in a couple of days, I bet Texas will be awesome! Hope your all well and only a few more days till I'm back in Oz :)"
Social Shuttle contributor Bill Ranken brings news of a well-heeled protest group-the Hunter Valley Protection Alliance- opposing coal seam gas mining in the chic and exclusive Southern Highlands where Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have their country base, Bunya Hill.
Ranken , who with his sister Jean owns nearby Lockesley, regarded as one of the state's most glorious pastoral properties says they have been approached by mining companies wishing to set down gas exploration units on their land in return for a share of profits. Although the Ranken's have embraced windmills and solar power Bill says he would never contemplate gas plants on their property as they wreak destruction.
Bunya Hill
Gas mining corporations have been inundating the airwaves with friendly adverts depicting a small obscure gas unit surrounded by fluffy sheep and grazing cows on green hills.
Ranken says the adverts are misleading and gas mining sucks the life out of the earth.
Other residents of the beautiful Southern Highlands and the Hunter Valley with it's dozens of award winning vineyards are being approached says Ranken and the fear is that some will succumb to gas companies offers.
The protest group is hoping to encourage Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban along with other notables in the area including Harry Potter actress Miriam Margoyles , novelist Bryce Courtney, broadcaster Alan Jones, model agency boss Peter Chadwick, Federal Labor minister Peter Garrett and Nutremetic's founder Imelda Roche to join the protests.
Past Highland's residents have included Sir Donald Bradman and P.L.Travers the author of Mary Poppins. The protestors warn that just one gas mine in the area can drill under properties for miles, destroying nutrients in the earth above.
Don Bradman
Bowral resident Miriam Margolyes
Yesterday came the news that the late Macquarie Bank boss, multi-millionaire and former Liberal party chairman David Clarke who passed away 6 months ago, had funded anti-gas campaigns with millions of dollars and spoke against the mining at local rallies.
Clarke owned the exclusive Poole's Rock vineyard in the Hunter and now his son has said that the executor of Clarke's estate BRI Ferrier has sold Poole's Rock to the gas company AGL without Clarke family knowledge and that AGL are trying to buy up vineyards and properties around the area.
A spokesman for the Hunter Valley Protection Alliance said Clarke, who had anti-mining posters throughout Poole's Rock would be "turning in his grave".
Madame Aracti has drawn our attention to a new book published in the UK by one of that countries top public relations experts Liz Brewer.
Liz was once married to Australian John Rendell of Christian The Lion fame and is the mother of chanteuse and songwriter Tallulah Rendell who wowed audiences in Sydney recently. She was also one of the hosts on the reality TV show Aussie Ladette To Lady where she attempted to convert a bunch of rough and tumble young girls into genteel lasses, suitable enough to mingle with the more refined classes .
party planner Liz Brewer (right) and celebs including Ivana Trump & NCIS actor Michael Weatherly
Ms Brewer has just published a new book Ultimate Guide to Party Planning & Etiquette which is flying off British book shelves in a country where trying to keep up the standards expected is becoming increasingly difficult in the new 'chav' culture sweeping that great isle.
And Liz knows her stuff having organised some of the top bashes in London for celebrities like Shirley Bassey and Ivana Trump. She's been around celebrities and high society for most of her career that began on the Algarve in Portugal when she opened a nightclub and attracted big names like Paul McCartney and Cliff Richard.
But we also have our own tome - the recently published colonial version :AGuide to Australian Etiquette-for all occasions, from weddings to workby publishing icon Ita Buttrose who was featured in the TV drama Paper Giants-The Birth of Cleo that depicted the 1970's when Kerry Packer lost the contract to publish a local version of Cosmopolitan and instead, under the auspices of Buttrose came up with the top selling magazine Cleo that has been going gangbusters ever since.
Ita Buttrose &Betty Churcher at the B &W lunch
Ita was a special guest at the Black & White Charity lunch last Tuesday which featured Dame Edna Everage who reminded the audience and Ita that it was her on the 1974 cover that rocketed Cleo to a staggering circulation of nearly half a million copies although it was Ita's idea to feature, for the first time, a man in a dress as she reminded the Dame.
Cleo-1974
Dame Edna retorted that she had no idea who Ita was at the time and thought her name was a reference to an International Terrorist group.
Both books are required reading if one is to attempt climbing the social ladder in either capitals and from Liz Brewer's interview on Madame Arcati we learn both cities suffer from similar problems. Like the eternal gatecrasher. Liz gives some handy hints to seeing them off and we feel concurs with our view of the local half dozen who plague events here - if they bring nothing to the event in appearance, manners, humour or intellect, what's the point of them ?.
But back to Ita's guide to surviving the sophistication of Australian culture. There are many crossover areas in both Liz Brewer's book and Ita's but the local version give us some much needed tips with a local flavour :
if suffering from bad breath consult your dentist
are you constantly farting ?..avoid spicy food
do you constantly chew gum, smack you're gums and make popping noises ? Don't !
don't let your dog jump in a pond especially if there is green algae !
don't pig out on bread at the dinner table and leave only crumbs
urinating in public is revolting
spitting in public is uncivilised ...and so on.
Ita also gives some helpful advice on weddings : what to do when the best man is a woman, how to dress for a Muslim wedding, what to do when you run into your ex ! and a host of veritable survival hints even at the football : no player should ever pretend to be their best mate in an attempt to have sex with another player's wife : if a girl has had too much too drink it's best to call a taxi to take her homeand most importantly : you never watch a player's mate and his girlfriend having sex!
Former Home and Away star Holly Campbell who is now a councilor on the Wingecarribee Council in the Southern Highland has lost a bid to take out an AVO (Apprehended Violence Order) against reporter Cristian King from the local newspaper LatteLife Southern Highlands.
Magistrate
Mary Ryan refused to uphold the application and stated that King, who defended himself in court, was
simply doing his job as a reporter on the 2 occasions he asked Cr
Campbell questions following council meetings and that his
actions did not warrant her being in fear of her life. 
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