Sir Laurence Street Joins the Team in Elizabeth Bay

Sir Laurence & Lady Penny Street

He is one of the Shuttle's favourite legal eagles and one of Australia's most respected jurists. At 87 years of age, Sir Laurence Street has moved into the uber smart nursing home Lulworth House in Elizabeth Bay.

Sir Laurence joins a veritable smorgasbord  of Sydney's most well known faces including entertainer Jeanie Little. promoter Harry M.Miller , Dame Leonie Kramer , former NSW premier Neville Wran and former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.

Harry Miller * Jeannie Little * Gough Whitlam

Sir Laurence Street & Rachel Finch
       at a party in 2008

Sir Laurence Street was the Chief Justice of the NSW Supreme Court and comes from a distinguished family of lawyers. His father Sir Kenneth Street was also NSW Chief Justice and his mother Jessie Street a tireless worker for Aboriginal and women's rights. It was largely her efforts that led to indigenous Australians finally getting a vote in 1967 (at one stage she was called Red Jessie in the media and a Conservative government refused to re-new her passport whilst she was abroad).

Nevile Wran (right) with
 artist Martin Sharp

Like Miller, Little , Whitlam and Wran, Sir Laurence was a regular on the social circuits in Sydney and Melbourne before ill health saw him hang up the gold embossed velvet Gucci pumps he often wore to parties.
Wife Penny Street is a great pal of Prince Charles and the pair always dined with Charles on his Australian visits.
Meanwhile a claim late last year by a former nurse that Lulworth House residents were "under-nourished" seems to have vanished from the ether.

Tom The (Sexy) Chippie

His career started as a phone-in to radio hosts Merrick and Rosso in 2000 while on a bricklaying job in Manly. Many years on and he's become a major TV star fronting numerous lifestyle programs and has done a stint on Dancing With The Stars ( a measure of sure success in Oz).

He is of course the impossibly handsome Tom Williams who was such a success on his call to the comedy duo that he was given he's own slot on their show.

Tom, Laura Csortan,Chris Joannou

Rachel Finch

Tom presented his first book last night at the Memphis Room (dedicated to Elvis) in The Winery in Surry Hills and a host of TV pals called by to toast Tom's success. The book : DIY Around The Home is chock full of handy household carpentry tips like how to soundproof a room or build a window planter box.

Tom is also a windsurfing champ and has fronted shows like Gladiators, Australia's Greatest Athlete, The Great Outdoors . Basically, he's a major sex symbol!.

Melissa Hoyer & Larry Emdur

Homage to Elvis

Those who turned up to sip some excellent wine from Wild Oats included Rachel Finch, Larry Emdur, Merrick Watts, fashion commentator Melissa Hoyer and Laura Csortan with her boyfriend Chris Joannou from the band Silverchair while ACP publisher Peter Holder launched the book.


# The Winery is another Fraser Short successful venture along with Kit & Kaboodle in Kings Cross and Gazebo in Potts Point. Fraser has just taken over the Brooklyn Hotel near Circular Quay. Tomorrow a host of writers and TV presenters gather at the Gazebo to celebrate it's birthday.

our favourite Knight of the Realm

He hasn't been seen out socially of late but Sir Laurence Whistler Street wasn't going to miss the coming home party for Australia's Miss Universe entrant, Rachel Finch last night at the Double Bay restaurant Pink Salt.

Sir Laurence-one of nature's true gentleman and with one of the finest legal minds in the country is now 83-slightly shaky on his pins but still sporting those sensible monogrammed Gucci slippers and mediating complicated matters of the law. Regarded as one of the most gifted lawyers and renowned for his fair decisions, Sir Laurence is still much sought after to settle complex disputes.

A former Chief Justice-as was his dad Sir Kenneth Street and as was his granddad, Sir Phillip Whistler Street. Mum Jessie Street was one of the country's foremost feminists and human rights campaigners who once had her passport rescinded whilst overseas during the 'reds under the beds' hysteria of the 1950's when she was accused by ASIO as a "secret Commie "

Word is that Rachel is fielding offers from every TV network and after hearing her speech, we reckon she is one clever gal who will go far.

                                     Joh Bailey & Anne O'Neil

                  
*********

Meanwhile at the same time, same location but a few doors apart, society snipper Joh Bailey showed off his spanking brand new salon with a few up-market guests like Lady Sonia McMahon and TV daytime queen Kerri Anne Kennerley with hubby John Kennerley , the man who started Littlewoods Football Pools in the UK, sold out for a fortune and moved to Sydney to concentrate on his hobby of collecting toy soldiers.

On hand was the decorator of Joh's swanky salon Anne O'Neil wife of quarry king turned developer Dennis O'Neil and a member of the famous British Tennet family.

just don't mention the cricket

Grant Dwyer & Rachel Finch

It's almost like a national shaming as the head of cricketer Ricky Ponting is demanded over the Ashes loss but one Aussie beat the UK in one respect. Rachel Finch may have come fourth in the Miss Universe contest with the 18 year old Stefania Fernandez from Venezuela carrying off the crown, but she did come in ahead of the UK entrant. But there should be no disappointment for Rachel. Coming in the magic 5 top numbers means she can look forward to an amazing amount of money-spinning endorsements according to manager and model agent Grant Dwyer. Dwyer is already fielding a staggering $10M in offers within just a few hours following the decision.