Yatching News #3

The Daily Mail / MailOnline carries a story and video of Lachlan and Sarah Murdoch on their new $30M Superyacht ESTROS as seen in this screenshot from that newspaper. The Estros is certainly a welcolm addition to Sydney Harbour with it's graceful old world charm. The only other yacht that can give it a run for it's money is the ENA (pictured below) which is moored at the Maritime Museum and was restored by a consortium headed by former Prime Minister Paul Keating and sailing legend Dennis O'Neil. Alas, the famous Mail Sub Editing Gremlins have struck once again with this caption : "The rebuilt 42-metre 1954 classic Istros was once once by the Pappadakis shipping dynasty". Still, you get the idea. For the full story go here: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10862731/Lachlan-Sarah-Murdoch-look-happy-cruise-Sydney-new-30million-yacht.html

Love Still Going Strong

It was many moons ago when Whispers introduced to the world, the former Mrs Anna Murdoch, with her new husband William Mann at the Lord Mayor's News Year's Eve party at the Sydney Opera House. Anna & William (pictured centre left) had flown into town to visit family members as out exclusive photo shows with her brother Hans Torv and his wife Kaiya.
Hans, who runs a radio network centred on the Gold Coast in QLD (sister Anna is a shareholder) is also father of the successful actress Anna Torv (below) star of the cult TV series Fringe. She lives in New York and often holidays with her aunt Anna Mann.
How pleasing then to see William & Anna in fine form last week at The New York Center for Children's "The Sunflower Party" in Southampton in Long Island.                              
As for former hubby Rupert Murdoch, he is currently in Sydney visiting son & heir Lachlan Murdoch and wife Sarah. They were spotted last week at Hamilton Island for the Audi Race Week.
Early next year a New York court is expected to hear what could be America's most expensive divorce case when Rupert & Wendi Murdoch go to battle unless an amicable settlement is reached as it was when Rupert divorced Anna who picked up a reputed $500M.

William & Anna Mann at the New York Center for Children's "The Sunflower Party". photo by Patrick McMullan (c)

King and his Prince

 Media baron Rupert Murdoch tonight hosted the 50th year celebration at the Horden Pavilion for his beloved Australian newspaper. As can be seen in our pic he arrived with heir apparent Lachlan Murdoch and daughter-in-law Sarah. Amongst the guests, PM Tony Abbott, former PMs John Howard and Paul Keating, James Packer and rival media mogul Kerry Stokes who owns the Seven Network.

Went To A Garden Party

Pictured in our snap is TV personality Deborah Hutton attending the elegant garden party at Boomerang, that  much sought after mansion in Elizabeth Bay. The Shuttle has attended numerous parties there over the years with invites from at least 3 owners during it's long life. Guests can come from all areas of society. We've encountered Prince Frederick and Princess Mary of Denmark, Tom Cruise during the filming of Mission Impossible 2 and the recently released Guantanamo Bay inmate David Hicks chatting to the NSW Governor Marie Bashir.

The Governor also attended Friday's event, the launch of an expected yearly Mother’s Day garden party in support of the Murdoch Children's Research Institute which honours the Institutes founder, the late Dame Elisabeth Murdoch. Amongst those attending - Sarah Murdoch, Ros Packer, Alex Perry and Lady Primrose Potter with treats dished up by chef Darren Taylor.

Below is Ricky Nelson's wonderful 1985 hit "Went To A Garden Party".

 

Looking Good

One guest at the Helpmann Awards last night was supermodel and Foxtel star Sarah Murdoch. Sarah is an ambassador for the Australian Ballet Company. Although she trained to be a ballet dancer she switched careers when told she was probably too tall for the ballet.

Today News Ltd has run a story claiming that the ailing Sydney Morning Herald has refused to run $30,000 worth of adverts promoting the book Killing Fairfax, the book by Fairfax writer Pamela Williams which is odd given that the current managing team at Fairfax weren't running the show during the period the events take place. James Packer, who isn't Fairfax's greatest fan and Sarah's husband Lachlan Murdoch, son of Rupert Murdoch were both at the launch of the book.
Meanwhile the Sydney Morning Herald has a new Editor In Chief, one of the countries most experienced investigative reporters Darren Goodsir- a move in the right direction.

Gatsby Rules !

Baz Luhrmann and The Great Gatsby bandwagon rolled into Sydney tonight for the Australian premiere and it was a huge hit with the audience.

The film's stars flocked to the Hoyts Cinema Complex in Moore Park, right next door to Fox Studios and Centennial Park where much of the movie was filmed. All that was missing was Leo DiCaprio who had other filming commitments but there were heaps of movie stars to keep hundreds of fans screaming their heads off and defying the pelting rain.
Forget what the critics say : Gatsby is a visual feast and a joyous romp through The Roaring Twenties. It's the first 3D film that the Shuttle has been able to sit through comfortably. Catherine Martin's sets and designs are sensational, over the top and there really is never a dull moment in this flick.
No-shows but reported elsewhere as attending : Ricky Martin, Seal and Kate Ritchie.

Gatsby fever strikes

The modelling Stenmark twins                                       Lachlan & Sarah Murdoch braved the rain

the brolly brigade at The Great Gastby

exclusive : Why Rebekah Brookes Visited Australia

While media mogul and US citizen Rupert Murdoch was visiting Darwin this week and castigating the ruling Labor Party over the 457 visas, the former CEO of his British newspaper interests, Rebekah Brooks was staying at Lachlan & Sarah Murdoch's lavish Bellevue Hill mansion.

Brooks and her husband racehorse trainer Charlie Brookes hit the town with the Murdochs playing tour guides. The Icebergs restaurant at Bondi Beach was a particular favourite with the foursome dining there twice.

The Shuttle can now reveal the reason for Brookes visit that coincided with Rupert Murdoch's annual check-up of his Aussie interests : she is being lined up to become boss of Rupert's new Australian operations when his publishing interests come under a new regime as he splits his newspapers from his movie and TV interests.
Brookes still has to face a UK court later this year over the hacking scandal but an impeccable News Ltd source tells the Shuttle that Murdoch is determined that Brookes heads up his local publishing interests for at least 3 years with the expected election of a Tony Abbott LNP government in September.
 When the hacking scandal exploded in the UK last year and Murdoch flew into London, he declared that looking after Rebekah Brookes was his first priority and when she was forced to resign, he gave her a reputed $20M payoff.

Les Miserables Murdochs

Wendi & Rupert at last night's premiere

Rupert and Wendi Murdoch graced the red carpet at last night's Sydney State Theatre premiere of Les Miserables joining local actors and the two male stars of the film Hugh Jackman and Russel Crowe.


The Murdochs were in Melbourne last week to attend the memorial service for the late Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, Rupert's much admired mother who died at the grand age of 103.

The Shuttle attended many parties at the home of Matt Handbury and his then wife Fiona at their harbour side mansion Altona (currently being rented by the Jackman clan). Fiona, who has since divorced Matt often spoke of the animosity between the Handburys and Murdochs. Matt inherited his mother Helen Handbury's  magazine empire which she as Rupert's sister inherited from Sir Keith Murdoch.

Now a Murdoch family insider Rodney E.Lever who assisted Murdoch in the creation of his media empire has penned a series of articles for the political website Independent Australia telling of the strained relationship that now bedevils the Murdochs : Rupert is estranged from his oldest son Lachlan and daughter Elisabeth who is married to Britain's ace PR consultant Mathew Freud.
While Matt Handbury attended Dame Elisabeth's service in Melbourne as did Lachlan and his wife Sarah Murdoch (Fiona has since become the Countess of Dartmouth), the Murdochs all went their separate ways and declined to attend the refreshments afterwards or to mingle with the other 1000 guests.

When Will This Fashion Die?

We've been watching with alarm the tendency for everyone these days to succumb to the tattooist needle, surely the most unoriginal fashion of the century,

Sunday Telegraph

Ros Reines writing in the Sunday Telegraph has ripped into the current X Factor judges ( and contestants) who  sport tats and insist on displaying them at every opportunity including Ronan Keating and Guy Sebastian the committed Christian who seems to be trying to re-assert his 'street-cred' to balance his palm waving life.

Lachlan Murdoch and wife Sarah Murdoch both sport them and recently the estranged wife of media mogul Mike Willesee, Jordana Willesee turned up at a Hermes party sporting a newly inked depiction of Jesus Christ although she expressed reservations that the Thai tattooist had given the Saviour a slightly Asiatic look.

Past 40, tattoos are not a look and maybe it's time to call time on this fashion!.

Mrs Murdoch Steps Out

For the second time in as many weeks the beautiful Sarah Murdoch, wife of Lachlan Murdoch has fronted the cameras.

They're tall, beautiful and Aussie- Sarah Murdoch (centre) with contestants from the show

Sarah hosted a preview of Australia's Next Top Model at Fox Studios last night followed by a drinks party and for once, the media was far too polite to mention that matter that has consumed them for the past 3 weeks.

They should be models : gorgeous Charlotte Dawson with some hunky footballers

But where do they find such beautiful and tall girls?. As you can see from our exclusive snaps another bevy of statuesque teens are battling to win a lucrative modelling career.

They'll choose Australia's Next Top Model : Charlotte Dawson, Sarah Murdoch & Alex Perry

Not All Doom & Gloom For The Murdochs

Sarah Murdoch at the Astras last night

The Murdoch family still face battles with the British parliament and a public still reeling from the great phone hacking scandal but life appears to be far rosier for some members of the extended first family of the media.

While Lachlan Murdoch accompanied his father Rupert Murdoch and brother James to London this week keeping a low profile and returning to New York with them on their private jet, his beautiful wife model and TV presenter Sarah Murdoch was  last night voted Favourite Personality at the Astra Awards for pay TV held at the Sydney Theatre Company.

Anna Torv splash

Sarah is host and executive producer of the series Australia's Next Top Model which co-incidentally is screened on Foxtel , the cable network part owned by her famous father-in-law.

Meanwhile the on-line magazine The Beast has come into bat for the Australian actress Anna Torv and claimed that she is a victim of the The Emmy Awards’ 10 Biggest Snubs.

Kia Torv, William & Anna Mann, Hans Torv

Anna appears in the hugely popular TV series Fringe which has a world wide cult following.

She's the daughter of Gold Coast radio network owner Hans Torv who is the brother of the former Mrs Anna Murdoch and she's the cousin of James, Lachlan, Prudence and Elisabeth Murdoch. Anna is named after her famous aunt.

John Noble

Not that Anna has much contact with her famous media family cousins. She's been estranged from her father Hans since the age of eight when he and her mother parted company but she does maintain contact with the former Mrs Rupert Murdoch and regularly visits her aunt in New York.
Anna Murdoch  married New Yorker financier William Mann and as our exclusive picture shows is extremely close to her brother Hans and his present wife Kia. Anna Mann is also a co-owner of the Queensland radio network run by Hans.
Anna Torv has been signed for another series of Fringe along with the star of the show, Australian actor John Noble who The Beast reckons should also be up for an Emmy.

Model Mischief

 The drama following the gaff made by host of the show, Sarah Murdoch in the announcement of the winner of the 2010 Australia's Next Top Model has been on-going

Feathers are flying in the modelling world after the top agency Priscilla's was dumped from the up-coming series and replaced by Chic run by the legendary agent Ursula Hufnagl who manages Miranda Kerr.

Taking over the reins as producer of the show Sarah ditched the production company Granada Media Australia and hired her sister-in-law Elisabeth Murdoch's  new TV production vehicle Shine. It's the sort of thing you can do when dad-in-law Rupert and husband Lachlan own most of the cable network the show features on.
                                                        ***********************
When gap toothed Victoria's Secret model Jessica Hart  scored the prestige job as top model in the Myer's G'Day Australia USA fashion spectacular in Los Angeles, she was at first reluctant to take the offer having just returned from working in the US.

However a financial offer made  by Myers sealed the deal. It was the kind that she couldn't refuse. Now there are rumblings in the huge Myer Emporium about whether former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins will continue in her role this year as ambassador for the chain store.

Miranda Kerr with a new bub to look after and under contract to the David Jones chain won't be attending this year's summer/spring collections.

Insiders are saying Myers are looking for a knock out blow to take DJ's fashion crown. Step forward Jessica.

The Shuttle's spies in New York report the gap-toothed beauty also has an ulterior motive for the trip back to the States. She has been getting up close and personal with  Stavros Niarchos who has had an on and off affair with Paris Hilton over the past few years and that has turned into a full blown affair with Niarchos begging Jessica to return to the US, according to friends.
                                     ****************************************
Billionaire James Packer's $45M Vaucluse  mansion ( right) is steaming ahead with massive earth-shifting machines digging deep into sandstone in preparation for an underground garage to house 13 vehicles, staff quarters and a huge swimming pool and presumably a kiddie's pen for children Indigo and Jackson.

James appears to be determined to dispense with all shreds of his father Kerry Packer's empire. Having sold off his dad's beloved Channel Nine network and the ACP magazine publishing titles that filled the Packer coffers, James has now purchased a controlling interest in the Ten TV network.

the Bondi Beach pad

When father Kerry died  James inherited a $6B fortune and lost a billion in just six months. He still lives in the sprawling Packer Bellevue Hill complex-2 mansions surrounded by the grounds of 2 more that were purchased and demolished, and his 3 storey apartment that he built directly opposite Bondi Beach.

The Vaucluse house, which James spent $18M on buying 3 houses to knock down and build the ultimate play pad will be ready in about 18 months time.

Meanwhile there was a rumour being touted at the Hobart to Sydney yacht race in January that the Z-Sydney, the luxury gin palace owned by James Packer that has played host to Hollywood movie stars Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes is for sale with James shopping for a new vessel and in talks with the ship yard that built the world's second biggest 'super' yacht, Al Said for Sultan Qaboos of Oman . In 2007 Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes also joined James and wife Erica aboard their luxury converted minesweeper the  Arctic P on their Mediterranean cruise after their Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc wedding.

read more at 'PS' in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Hopefully in 3D-Murdoch The Movie

A film script on the life of Rupert Murdoch is being hawked around Hollywood.

This news comes courtesy of Franklin Leonard's annual Black List. Leonard is regarded as 'Hollywood's most important soothsayer" according to the LA Times with his list each year of unmade film projects. 

He compiles the list by talking to LA's most influential agents and studio bosses and any script that gets 5 mentions is included  with the added bonus it generates so much industry chat that the inclusion is regarded as a lifeline for ailing screenplays.

'Murdoch' was commissioned by the UK's Channel 4 and written by respected TV script writer Jesse Armstrong but 4 decided against making it. It's now being handled by a top agency Creative Artist's Agency who are looking for a producer and backer.

The script blurb reads : "As his family gathers for his birthday party, Rupert Murdoch tries to convince his elder children to alter the family trust so that his two youngest children by his newest wife will have voting rights in the company."

Ouch ! A little close to home. 

When Rupert divorced his second wife Anna Murdoch Mann , the mother of children Lachlan, James and Elisabeth, Anna went in tough with heavy New York lawyers and  secured a very profitable trust which she controls that holds huge swathes of News Corp shares in her children's names although  she was forced off the News board in the process. 

And she had rather unkind words to say about Rupert in a 2001 interview where she described him as "hard, ruthless and determined".

No-one quite knows what size of inheritance Wendi Murdoch's 2 daughters Chloe and Grace may be in for. With  News Corp  headquartered in Delaware with it's secretive corporate laws, the outside world doesn't really know quite what the media empire or Murdoch is worth although it will be in the billions of dollars.

 Long before Wendi appeared on the scene Murdoch also made a famous faux pas in 1997 when he referred to "my 3 children " while talking about succession in a press conference that drew the ire of his daughter Prudence Murdoch MacLeod, his first child from marriage to Patricia Booker. Never shy, Prudence got a public apology out of her father.

So it's all there-plenty of meat for Murdoch the film !

Rupert ?

Who would play the roles in this gripping drama where the clan get-together to discuss high finance?.

As the media baron Rupert Murdoch  step forward Barry Humphries who played Rupert in the 1983 film Selling Hitler: The Story of the Hitler Diaries. Humphries has aged nicely with the same crumpled look as Rupert.

Matt Damon is a cinch for the role of the American accented Lachlan Murdoch and surely  Sarah Murdoch with thespian ambitions could play herself. New actor Leighton Meester could do a good Elisabeth Murdoch. Hayden Christensen with specs could play James Murdoch.

That leaves roles for the two who are bound to play  a leading part in the carve-up of Murdoch's billions-Wendi Murdoch and Mathew Freud. Answers on a postcard please.

# you can download Leonard's Black List here and see other scripts 'Murdoch' is competing with. The Shuttle's favourite : Abraham Lincoln : Vampire Hunter. The future president's mother is killed by a vampire and Abe spends the rest of his life hunting down the killers !

Mrs Lachlan Murdoch Sacks The Firm !

It was gaffe that was seen by a relatively small audience by Foxtel's cable TV standards- around 180,000 viewers on the night.

Sarah Murdoch, the gorgeous supermodel wife of Lachlan Murdoch  (son of Rupert Murdoch) announced the wrong winner of the Australia's Next Top Model contest. Youngster Amanda Ware won the title-Mrs Murdoch announced the winner as Kelsey Martinovich who was actually the runner-up.

Kelsey received a $25,000 consolation prize while the clip of Sarah's mistake went viral around the world.

When the Shuttle revealed the story on the 29th October we speculated that "at least the boss can't fire her". Particularly as husband Lachlan Murdoch and dad-in-law Rupert own a controlling swag of shares in the Foxtel network.

Sarah did one better. She sacked the production company Granada Media Australia who produced Australia's Next Top Model and hired a new firm Shine TV which happens to be owned by Sarah's sister-in-law Elisabeth Murdoch. Keeping it in the family, as one does.

Meanwhile Sarah's husband Lachlan and his partner James Packer who have purchased 17% of the Ten Network have hit a stumbling block with a new player in the game.



Bob Brown



Australia's richest woman , the billionaire Gina Rinehart has snapped up 10% of Ten which may put the mockers on Lachlan & Jame's ambitions to control the network.

And Bob Brown, leader of The Australian Greens has announced a whole raft of policies to diversify Australia's media and  says he will introduce legislation into Parliament to keep all sports broadcast on free-to-air television.

Rupert Murdoch, currently attempting to wrestle control of the UK network BSkyB also wants more sports broadcasts for the Foxtel Network and is currently lobbying the Labor Government to make that happen.

The Greens  hold 9 seats in the Senate- the balance of power-and Labor will have to do some  heavy horse trading if they want to get any of their own policies past them in the Upper House.



Elisabeth Murdoch & Matthew Freud

 Rupert described the party as "those bloody Greens" in a speech in October and his newspaper The Australian in a bizarre editorial threatened to "destroy the Greens".

Perhaps it's time to call on the assistance of his son-in-law Matthew Freud, (currently in Oz with wife Elisabeth) who has been described as 'Britain's most powerful public relations expert".

At Least The Boss Can't Fire Her !

It was one of the most embarrassing moments on TV-the host tonight announcing the winner of Australia's Next Top Model.

Gorgeous supermodel and host of the show Sarah Murdoch announced Kelsey Martinovichas the winner of the first prize which is guaranteed to lead to an international modeling contract.

Seconds later she corrected herself and announced that in fact-18 year old Amanda Ware from Queensland was the winner. Sarah looked close to tears as she said "Oh no this is wrong, this is what happens on live TV -it's insane, insane , insane "

Amanda's prizes include an eight-page spread in Harper's Bazaar, a contract with Priscilla's modelling agency, a $25,000 Levi's campaign, a $20,000 cash prize, a Ford Fiesta Zetec and a trip to New York.

The awards were held tonight at Luna Park (motto-Just For Fun!) at North Sydney beneath the Harbour Bridge and broadcast live on Foxtel.

Kelsey's tears of joy turned to despair as the truth sank in but she is probably thanking Sarah tonight. Foxtel have decided to give her a $25,000 consolation prize.

As for Mrs Murdoch-her job should be safe. Dad-in-law Rupert Murdoch is the major share-holder in Foxtel and husband Lachlan Murdoch holds a great swag of shares in the cable network.
Sarah took over the hosting job when previous host, Jodhi Meares, ex-wife of James Packer said she suffered stage fright and couldn't handle the job any longer.

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

Former Cleo Bachelor Of The Year Dr. Richard Young has been banned from practising medicine after paying a prostitute/patient for sex. You can read the tale in The Sydney Morning Herald here

When Media Moguls dine

James & Erica (left)

Lachlan & Sarah

Heads turned on Saturday night as one of Australia's richest power couples walked into Surry Hill's Winery Restaurant. It was billionaire James Packer (estimated wealth : $6.1B) and his wife, ex-model Erica.

And the guests who joined them shortly after soon got tongues wagging-Lachlan Murdoch, son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, and his wife, the model Sarah Murdoch.

This was a joint celebration.
James and Lachlan both share the 8Th September as their birthday. Which makes them typical Virgoans. In Chinese astrology James is Sheep. Sheep are often into new age philosophies.

Perhaps that explains the young Packer's interest in Scientology which movie star and good friend Tom Cruise introduced him to. ( Cruise phoned Packer at the restaurant to wish him all the best)

Sheep can be generous in love. Former wife Jodhi Meares could probably attest to that. It's rumoured she picked up $15M in her divorce from James plus a house and another for her mother.
Ex fiancee Kate Fisher is said to have got a $3M parting gift plus a Bondi apartment.

When James and Kate married they did it in style on the French Rivera at Hotel du Cap - Eden Roc . 100 guests were flown from Australia first class and the 2 honeymooned on the Mediterranean in the Packer's luxurious former ice-breaker, the Arctic P. ( joined by Cruise and Katie Holmes).

Sheep aren't the best in business. Possibly why Packer has dropped a billion since his father Kerrie left him the biggest inheritance in Australian history in 2005.

Lachlan Murdoch is a Pig or Boar in Chinese astrology. Pigs are nice to a fault and possess impeccable manners and taste. They delight in finery and riches. Lachlan fits this to a tee. He recently paid a record $23M for the former French Consulate in Bellevue Hill which came with tennis courts, swimming pool, sculptured lawns, 8 bedrooms and magnificent harbour views. It's also a stone's throw from his good sheep mate Jame's Belleveue Hill compound.

Pigs are so pure they cannot see bad in anyone. James and Lachlan took a pasting in their joint One-Tel venture losing around $300M of their respective father's money when they hung on every word from their former school mate Jodee Rich (pictured left with James & Lachlan) who convinced them it was a great investment.

When Lachlan was CEO of his father's Australian News Corporation he used to walk around the various newspapers enquiring after just about everyone's health. Old timers said he was too soft.

What do the rich give each other on their birthdays?. We aren't sure but Lachlan came bearing Cartier carrier bags for James !
*********************************
Following our report that Russell Crowe and Danielle Spencer (plus kids) viewed a Seven Shillings Beach house (right) last week, the 1950's style house sold for $19M on the weekend at auction.

The property was sold by cardboard packing industry heir Nigel Butler who prefers surfing most days rather than high finance and business. Although the house is rather run down it does have exclusive access to the beach and a sensational view to the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. No news yet on whether the Crowe family will be moving in.