Arise Sir Frank

Completely nu-noticed by the Mainstream Media possibly because No Kardashian was harmed during the making of this news, it didn't involve the late Princess Diana and Meghan Markle has nothing to do with it, but one of Australia's richest men has been knighted by Her Majesty, Queen of Australia,

Plain old Frank Lowy worth a reputed $8Billion who lives in Sydney's Bellevue Hill now becomes Sir Frank Lowy. Lowy is the mastermind of the giant Westfield Shopping plazas that now dot the landscape in Australia, the US and the UK. He was quietly knighted a month ago. One of Britain's largest Westfield is in the shadow of the dreadful Grenfeel building in West London. The Brits have taken to them like ducks to water.
And it was not for the services of confusing shoppers world-wide as to where they parked their car in a Westfield car-park, rather for his services to industry which have been considerable certainly in his adopted Australia where he arrived as a penniless refugee after WW2. You could read more of Sir Frank's fascinating history here.

Wag Of The Week # 1 - a new series

Inaugural Wag of The Week could only be the Social Shuttle's favourite celebrity show-biz spruiker and ex-saucepan salesman from Shepherds Bush Market in London : Max Markson.

Introducing a panel of fashion experts at a forum at the Jewish Museum in Darlinghurst, Max said :
"I'd like to thank the traditional owners of the land we are on- Frank Lowy and James Packer "

"Invasion Of The Super Yachts"

The UK's Daily Mail has published a  feature on the many fabulous gin palaces that have invaded the Thames & London for the Olympics. It's deja vu time and just like a re-run of the Sydney 2000 Olympics when basically the same boats arrived in Sydney and lined up at the wharf in Blackwattle Bay, the only place large enough to host a billion dollars worth of luxury boating.

Hopefully those flogging luxury goods in London will not make the same mistake as several did at Blackwattle and set up stores nearby. A 3 star restaurant opened hoping to cater to yacht owners and several luxury goods purveyors like the South Australian Pearl jeweler who flew in a million dollars worth of gems and built a small boutique from the ground up for the  2 weeks of games. All went broke after the fortnight. Most of the boat owners flew in and stayed at hotels while the only people onboard their boats were staff.

Illona at Canary Wharf

the Murdochs at the Lowy dinner

Frank Lowy

One luxury ship in London is Frank Lowy's  Ilona that is moored at Canary Wharf, not far from his good friend Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.HQ. Lowy owns the giant Westfield Shopping Centres. Rupert & Wendi Murdoch flew to Sydney from New York in 2008 to attend a dinner in honour of Lowy at the Royal Randwick Racecourse as the Shuttle's exclusive pic shows.

Lowy fled Czechoslavakia to France in 1946 but was arrested by British troops and incarcerated at a detention camp in Cyprus, eventually making it to Israel and joining the Haganah. He arrived in Australia in 1953 and partnered with Hungarian immigrant John Saunders to create Westfield, now the largest shopping centre owners in the world. The Shuttle attended a breakfast at the Regent Hotel in Sydney for Henry Kissinger (see pic below with Ros Packer) in 1998. When Kissinger left the stage he was mobbed by the many politicians there but brushed them aside, making his way to Lowy's table where the 2 remained in deep conversation.

Kylie's a Living Treasure

The National Trust has just announced 7 new Living Treasures in association with that esteemed organ of repute Woman's Day and although some are predictable, others may surprise.

Dr Karl Kruzelnicki

No list would be complete without Kylie Minogue who wowed them at the Sydney Mardi Gras last night and has been elevated to almost Sainthood status in the UK. Olivia Newton John is one along with racing driver Jack Brabham, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki the scientist and ABC broadcaster (his wife makes those lurid shirts he is fond of), conservationist Dr Harry Butler, cancer expert and pioneer Professor Ian Frazier and mining billionaire Clive Palmer.

Clive Palmer?. Just days ago Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan was warning us against the dogged pursuit of power and wealth by the handful of mining magnates Clive Palmer, Gina Rinehart (on her way to become the world's richest person) and Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest. 

treasures: Clive Palmer

Swan called them a 'danger' to democracy with their capacity to affect government policy as they did in 2010 by funding a multi-million dollar advertising campaign to derail the new mining tax. Clive and the other two billionaires said it would break them although Twiggy Forrest confessed he hadn't actually hadn't got around to paying tax yet but "soon would". The campaign successfully dispatched PM Kevin Rudd's career to history and just to show there were no hard feelings, Palmer splashed out and gave 55 treasured employees a brand new Mercedes each for Christmas that year.!

Palmer's latest campaign is to destroy the Football Federation (run by Australia's second richest person, Westfield owner Frank Lowy) with his new soccer association. A real treasure!

It's Raining Men!

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 neighbours like 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

Camilla conquers The World

Gina Rinehart

       As it departs Australian shores, news comes of a major success for fashion designer Camilla Franks onboard the most luxurious liner sailing the seven seas, The World.

The World

  Franks, one of the countries most successful low profile designers was invited to show her summer caftan range at a fashion show for The World's pasengers, many of whom live permanently onboard the liner as it cruises the world.

      With a limited budget that prevented her hiring professional models, Camilla hit upon a unique idea-why not have the passengers walk the catwalk. And so they did at a parade that turned out to be not only fun for the ship's residents, but a financial success for Franks who sold out her complete range.

       And one of those who purchased around 20 caftans-Australia's richest woman, the reclusive West Australian iron-ore billionairess Gina Rinehart.

Camilla Franks

    For Franks, her meeting with Rinehart was the second within the last few months. Camilla and her mother had run into Rinehart, the daughter of the late Lang Hancock last year while showing her wares in a Mediterranean port when Rinehart happened upon the showing and purchased 30 caftans-ideal clothing for a lazy summer sailing the Med. 

At number 30, Gina's husband John called a halt to the sale : " Enough to see you through the summer dear". Obviously Gina thought not quite-she now has at least 50 Franks designs in her wardrobe.

With a rapidly rising fortune estimated at $4B due to the mineral resources boom, Rinehart could soon be the richest Ausssie, displacing James Packer and the Westfield shopping centre king Frank Lowy.

                                           ****************************

Brother Andre-died before he was born !

As the Catholic Church shores up it's Australian constituency with the expected announcement that Mother Mary McKillop will achieve sainthood, the London Daily Mail newspaper reports on another candidate :

"Brother Andre, who founded Saint Joseph Oratory in Canada. Born on August 9, 1945 under the name of Alfred Bessette, Bother Andre, died on January 6, 1937 in Montreal"

Surely one of the greatest miracles of all time-St Andre died 8 years before he was born !



                                       *******************************
Sydney Morning Herald scribe Matt Buchanan has at last picked up the tale reported by the Social Shuttle nearly 3 months ago-singer George Michael will be a guest at the 2010 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras on Saturday 6th March. 

                                        ******************************

Johnny Weir

UPDATE 2. All is forgiven- although American Olympic ice-skating star Johnny Weir has been pipped at the post by team-mate Evan Lysacek who picked up gold, he has forgiven his Nine TV network detractor and Olympic commentator Eddie McGuire who ripped into Weir with a series of homophobic statements about Weir's costumes. Weir gave a coy smile into the Ch 9 cameras tonight and expressed his desire to visit Oz.

McGuire

Eddie 'Everywere" McGuire responded to Johnny that he was welcome to stay at his place. Isn't that nice ?

Meanwhile membership of the Facebook page "Eddie Mcguire is ruining the 2010 Winter Olympics coverage" first reported by this blog yesterday now has 6274 members!