Jessica needs some good advice

The dramas over Jessica Mauboy's aborted plan to sing the national anthem at the Melbourne Cup could be an indicator of  the professionalism of those advising her. Jessica's no show was passed off by her management with the following statement :

“There was a lot going on yesterday and there was miscommunication with her styling team, unfortunately by the time it was resolved the call time had been missed.".  The Victorian Racing Club responded : "contracts for paid appearances at the Cup are easily understood and it is paramount that paid guests understand the importance of respecting paid sponsors"
Whispers should know. Many moons ago we organised the visit of the famous British milliner David Shilling who was a star guest at the Cup. VRC reps are nothing but courteous and experts in handling visiting celebrities such as Shilling with no stone left unturned during his 3 day stay in Melbourne as they guided him through a tour of personal appearances with their various sponsors like Myer.
Mauboy is currently promoting her new perfume which has had a less than stellar impact. Perhaps it's something to do with the organisers of her launch in Kings Cross a few weeks ago. A top publication sent their photographer to the small launch (guests : the usual newsreaders etc one saw at a function the week before) only to have a snooty publicist proclaim that they would choose what photographs  that the magazine could publish.

Just to show they had no hard feelings, the magazine editor ditched the entire idea of covering Jessica's launch. It's sad as Jessica is a sweet lady and a terrific talent. But as always, you must have the right team to promote you or it can all go pie eyed.

David Shilling at Ascot

Women of Style

In Style Magazine held their annual shindig of top looking gals at the Horden Pavilion. Lots of familiar faces- so familiar we saw most of them at last week's parties but who are we too complain when there's some top nosh on offer washed down by Piper Heidsieck !  
Melissa Doyle hosted and songbird Jessica Mauboy entertained and it was nice to see some of our acting fraternity on the red carpet including Claudia Karvan, Rachel Griffiths, Rebecca Gibney and Susie Porter.

Danielle Spencer            Jessica Mauboy                   Melissa Doyle           Rachel Griffiths            Teri Biviano

Those Aria Awards in Full

Another week, another set of awards. This time the Australian music industry gongs.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Lonerism, Tame Impala
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST RELEASE
Flume
BEST MALE ARTIST
Flume, Flume
BEST FEMALE ARTIST
To the End of the Earth, Jessica Mauboy
More winners when you keep reading.
BEST GROUP
Lonerism, Tame Impala
BEST INDEPENDENT RELEASE
Push the Sky Away, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
BEST ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM
Push the Sky Away, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
BEST BLUES AND ROOTS ALBUM
Sharkmouth, Russell Morris
BEST CHILDREN'S ALBUM
A Little Day Out with Justine Clarke, Justine Clarke
BEST COMEDY RELEASE
The Bits We're Least Ashamed Of, Tom & Alex
BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
Wreck and Ruin, Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson
BEST DANCE RELEASE
Flume, Flume
BEST POP RELEASE
Armageddon, Guy Sebastian
BEST ROCK ALBUM
Lonerism, Tame Impala
BEST HARD ROCK/HEAVY METAL ALBUM
Asymmetry, Karnivool
BEST URBAN ALBUM
Bring It Back, Illy
SONG OF THE YEAR
"Resolution," Matt Corby
BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT
One Direction
BEST AUSTRALIAN LIVE ACT
Guy Sebastian — Get Along Tour: Mar - Jun 2013
BEST VIDEO
Christopher Frey for "Firestarter" by Samantha Jade

Sapphires Are Still Shining

The Australian film that has become an international hit The Sapphires has earned director Wayne Blair a moniker as one of influential Variety's Ten Directors To Watch.

Based on a real story The Sapphires tells the story of an Indigenous girl group who travelled to Vietnam in 1968 to entertain US troops. It received a standing ovation when screened at Cannes this year and stars Deborah Mailman, Shari Sebbens and Jessica Mauboy.

Director Blair also has a hit on his hands with a staring role in the ABC TV series Redfern Now.

Below is a clip from the movie : What A Man

Fun, Fearless and Female

Fifi Box looks pleased to win an award.

To one of Sydney's best restaurants, Catalina nestled by the harbour in Rose Bay for Cosmopolitan Magazine's Fun, Fearless & Female annual awards.

Hardly a chore with champagne cocktails and superb food and a chance to mingle with some of the countries nicest ladies as awards were handed out in a variety of categories with almost half a million readers voting on their favourite top gals.

Hunk Daniel meets Shelly Craft

Danielle Cormack

Loving : Radio DJ Fifi Box, Charlotte Dawson's bare tattooed foot, Funny Home Video's host and MC Shelley Craft, Funny Home Videos ex-host Toni Pearon, and gorgeous singer Jessica Mauboy, the pink carpet.


Faces to watch : # 27 year old novelist Jessica Rudd, daughter of former PM Kevin Rudd, based in Beijing and whose novel Ruby Blues earned her a gong as best novelist.

# Actress Danielle Cormack in her first big role as 1930's Sydney crime boss Kate Leigh in Underbelly Razor.

Jessica Rudd

cute Lauren Eagle

Toni Pearon

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The Most Expensive Dinner in Town

We counted 4 billionaires and a dozen multi-millionaires whose wealth is the hundreds of millions amongst the 750 guests. And a host of young heirs and heiresses who will inherit those fortunes.





adding colour-Ruby Jacenko

  

 Property tycoon Lang walker, the Nutrimetics founders Bill and Imelda Roche, Aussie Home Loans boss John Symonds, TV network supremo David Leckie and his wife Skye, Opposition MP Malcolm Turnbull (possibly the next Prime Minister) and wife Lucy, Grant Vandenburg (he manages Russel Crowe), dentist to the stars David Carr (Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman and a host of Hollywood stars sport his perfect molars) while British banker Duncan Mount and his clan paid a visit from Byron Bay (he bought Paul Hogan's country estate but is planning a move back to Sydney).



Duncan & Sally Mount (centre) & clan



Rounding the corner of New South Head Rd into Rose Bay and the sight to behold was something special. Marquees snaked around the promenade, each one dedicated to one of the world's most renowned chefs who were going to prepare a sumptious banquet for the Flood Appeal in association with the Salvation Army. Every penny-and it's estimated one million dollars was raised (at $1000 a head), will go to the Queensland flood victims.

Chefs included Neil Perry, Matt Moran, Bennelong's Guillaume Brahimi  and Maurice Terzini from the Bondi Icebergs. The event was the mastermind of Catalina's Michael & Judy McMahon and everyone from the local council, waiters who donated their services, providors and vineyards to the Rose Bay police performed admirably as the night went as smooth as silk.



Jessic Mauboy



Russell Crowe's manager Grant Vandenberg & family



The wonderful indigenous singer Jessica Mauboy sang up a storm as a gentle breeze cooled the air and fruit bats filled the sky on their nightly vigil from the Botanical Gardens to their abode in the east. The moon was full but no craziness ensued.

Emirates Airways provided a raffle prize in the form of a first class world trip as did Paspaley Pearls with a stunning necklace worth $200,000.

  # Paspaley also hosted a charity party on the same night at Ottos on the Finger Wharf in Woolloomooloo with guest Xavier Samuel of the Twilight series and entertainment from Australian Idol winner Wes Carr raising $325,000 for the same cause.










Lang & Sue Walker









Bill & Imelda Roche