It's DOT NET !!! now

CARELESS WHISPERS HAS CHANGED IT'S INTERNET ADDRESS FROM WWW.THESOCIALSHUTTLE.COM TO: WWW.THESOCIALSHUTTLE.NET that's: www.thesocialshuttle.net # don't ask..it's a long convulted story not worth repeating at this stage. But we'll be back within days with some of the latest news on Sydney happenings. And a big thank you to the 100s of readers who contacted us..and the many who actually tracked down our new address! ## Especially those 100s of daily visitors from Russia !! We love you !

Tales From the Dreamtime #1

An invitation landed on Whisper's desk around three years ago. 

It was a request from a well known luxury car manufacturer ( via their "publicist") to attend the launch of a new model and snap guests in front of one of those wretched "media walls" that now appear at every major and minor event.

We advised unless we could mingle with guests (bearing in mind Whispers has a decades long history of cohabiting at parties with the most famous slebs on the planet and have yet to tread on one's toes or spill a drink- publisher Malcolm Forbes 70th birthday bash in Morocco was a memorable one where the late Elizabeth Taylor danced with gay abandon with a waiter) we find those endless celebrity pics in front of an advertising board a tad dull and believe readers may likewise. We tend to like mixing people together at parties for photographs.

Mind you, if of course there really was someone sensationally famous attending of course we would have been there with bells on..but no, the guest list comprised of  numerous names who upon inquiring as to their "celebrity status" we were informed they were "influencers". We've yet to meet an influencer and have little desire to photograph one in front of a board naming various products.

Besides the party was on the north side of Sydney at 6pm which is really a big no no- going "overseas" as it's called (across the Sydney Harbour Bridge) means 2 hours in a traffic jam.

But this little tale says it so much better:

Fairwater, Uri Geller and Lady Mary Fairfax

 The recent reports that  Fairwater, the former home of the late Lady Mary Fairfax has sold for a whopping $100M brings to mind a chat that Whispers once had at Fairwater with Lady Mary, who died in 2017, and the famous "spoon bender" Uri Geller.

Whispers arrived very early for a gala charity ball to be held in a marquee in the garden at the Fairwater mansion. Arriving minutes later and also early was Geller who was in town at the time.

Connections: Uri with Theresa May

We started to chat as Uri grilled Whispers on who the guests would be for the night- the usual shakers & movers of Sydney society. Soon Lady Mary joined us and during the conversation as Uri asked Mary about the history of Fairwater, she commented that she had left the property to the National Trust with a provision that her staff were entitled to live there for the rest of their lives. It was the second time we had heard this from Lady Mary.
But anyone can change their mind and, obviously she did as Fairwater was sold recently to a tech billionaire making it the most valuable house in Australia.

# As the night progressed Lady Mary sent her loyal butler to retrieve some silver forks and spoons from her collection which Geller proceeded to bend for the 200 guest's delight- and in front of Whispers who was no further than 2 feet from the man. Uri also commented that the guests may find strange things happen with their personal items.

The lady who accompanied Whispers to the function, a writer for the National Enquirer found her late mother's watch, a sentimental item she always carried in her handbag but which had never worked, started ticking. She also found an eye-brow pencil in her make-up bag (branded "ESP") had split down the middle. Spooky !.

A giant (bent) spoon outside Geller's new museum in Israel

The local manager of the French champagne company Veuve Clicquot found his car keys had twisted completely out of shape and he had to catch a taxi home. Likewise a well known hairdresser who accompanied Whispers and our date up the long Fairwater driveway while leaving the party commented that Geller, as he passed him on the way out had tapped his shoulder. Reaching into his pocket to get his car keys- he found them twisted beyond recognition. We report- you decide!.

Uri Geller has moved from the UK to Israel where he now lives. He is opening a museum in Old Jaffa in a splendid building which will house his vast collection of items including his amazing car covered in bent spoons and forks. Is Lady Mary Fairfax's cutlery among them?
# Uri thanks Lady Mary Fairfax in the forewood of his latest book.

Star spotting exclusive !

Whispers omnipresent spies are everywhere. Even in far flung Sydney suburbs. One disguised as a suburban latté drinker informs us that Hollywood great Jack Nicholson was spotted sipping coffee with two pals in the Thirmele Cafe in Thirmele, a small suburb near Picton in the Camden area of outer Sydney. Thirmele is also the home of the NSW Railway Museum.

Our man on the street reports Jack is also a train enthusiast and visited the museum in the morning.

Party Central

Whispers partied hard at a new venue and it's a great find. Archie Brothers Electric Circus is nestled behind an industrial centre in deepest Alexandria and it looks like a winner to us. This is really a great spot to hold a party. Not too far for a taxi, plenty of parking (it's own car park) terrific party food, a huge bar and a  range of fun fair type games that would keep guests occupied for hours.
Location: 55 Doody Street, Alexandria (next door to Sky Zone) 1300 888 FUN |

Love Birds spotted

 

Whisper's New York spy disguised as America's top social snapper Patrick McMullan has sent us some pics to share. Out on the tiles this week was the legendary Rupert Murdoch owner of the Fake News Fox News conglomerate with his glamorous wife Jerry Hall.
The shindig was the opening night of The Metropolitan Opera 2017-2018 season.

And look at some of the other celebrity guests who went on to the gala dinner afterwards: the amazing Patti Smith who can make a white t-shirt and long gray hair look so elegant, actors Josh Lucas and Paul Sorvino with his wife Dee Dee and F.Murray Abraham among so many others. What a difference it makes compared to your average Sydney party where the major guests are..newsreaders and male models! (we really do love them though).

Veronika Part looked the part & actor Paul Sorvino took his wife Dee Dee to the party

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Whisper's spy disguised as an aging Eastern Surburb's socialite informs us that society couple Anthony Bell and beautiful wife Kellie Landry are back living under the same roof. What joy- we can only approve. They make a fine couple.

When worlds collide

PR supremo Deeta Colvin (pictured on the right) hosted a get-together this week as many of Sydney's top publicists joined Colvin who once reigned over Australia's glam social scene of the 1990s. Colvin was the mastermind behind the legendary Cointreau Balls of which Whispers attended many. They were some of the best bun fights this scribe has seen around the world. Hundreds of guests would be collected in limousines to be transported to a secret location for dinner and dancing wearing the prescribed costume theme for that year. Locations were varied from dis-used warehouses to a circus marquee in the wilds of the Wanda Beach sand hills, transformed into a fun palace for the night with top chefs catering and of course, those limos on hand to take one home which of course meant, over-indulgence was the order of the night

The several language speaking Deeta is married to heavyweight lawyer Rod McGeoh one of the clever masterminds behind securing the 2000 Olympics for Sydney. When the successful bid was announced the then Olympics boss and Spanish aristocrat  Juan Antonio Samaranch visited Sydney to look over the preparations as they proceeded.
Whispers recalls being at one small reception for Samaranch at which stage, the artist Charles Billich enters the scene. Spying a Billich print in the corner of the room McGeoh inquired why it was there and was told it was to be a gift to Samaranch. Shaking his head McGeoh responded "are you seriously giving him that"?.

The colorful wife of Billich, Christa Billich (left) was this week described as a "close friend" of the Playboy boss Hugh Hefner who died this week. A late arrival at the rather tacky Playboy Mansion, which can be hired for corporate events, it was only in the last couple of years that the Billichs descended upon the LA house. Perhaps Christa sneaked past the guards to the Hef's private quarters which the public were forbidden to enter and visited the ailing Hefner who had been bedridden for the past three years.

But the Chandeliers !

Last week just wasn't a good week for Whispers. Not feeling top of the world etc. We had to turn down the odd stiffy or two. And thus, we missed yet another glittering' event. And it was a glittering event because several newspaper columnists told us all about the crystal chandeliers that were featured at the 2017 Prix De Marie Clair Awards.

We can't really say we missed those in attendance. Mainly because we saw the same "A-List" the week before and will probably again next week at something or other. Assorted newsreaders and TV hosts, models and fashion designers were there to receive an award. Don't get us wrong. They're all nice people. And they all look nice. Some are beautiful even and some most handsome. Take the modelling Stenmark Twins (please). Absolute charmers and devilishly handsome. We can't say too much as Whispers knows the family quite well but..they were just as handsome as they were last week and will be next week at the next event.
Our one real regret was that last week we also missed an event at which many "influencers" would be in attendance. We've yet to meet a real influencer but it's early days. Back to Marie Claire. Editor Jackie Frank is one of our most liked and clever magazine editors. She's unpretentious and knows the business which is why her magazine is very successful. And apparently, she knows her chandeliers. And now the readers of many publications also know about those chandeliers.

Here is our snap of singer Danni Minogue at the event in an exciting white frock. It's so wonderful that the Mail Online ran at least 8 photos of it. Next to her is the wondrous make-up guru Napoleon Perdis who whipped up some gorgeous puff sleeves out of the the remaining fabric from Danni's dress. And a snap of the designing duo from Romance Was Born. What fun !

Box Office Bonanza

As if to prove Whispers' point in our last post mentioning a low budget film we are working on, a

perfect example occurs to prove powerful Hollywood film producer Cassian Elwes' belief in the big profits to be made on small films.

And taking the box office by storm the flick also stars two Australian actors. Annabelle: Creation is the tale of a couple who welcome a Nun and six orphaned girls into their California farmhouse. But terror soon strikes the house when one child enters a forbidden room.
Directed by Swede David Sandberg the film stars Miranda Otto and Anthony LaPaglia. It was released in Australia on the 10th August and is a smash hit.
Costing a reasonable $15M , the picture has already taken over $71M at the box office. 
Below is a trailer for the film.
    UPDATE : Worldwide takings for Annabelle: Creation are now:  

$215,080,384

At the Cannes Film Festival

Spotted by our spy disguised as an aging French movie star, Big Jim Byrnes, Sydney resident and one of this cities most 'colorful' characters, at the Cannes Film Festival.

And doesn't he look elegant - he's about 6'6" - and seems to have lost a lot of weight. 

 Jim is regularly seen around town in a tasteful red (or is it a silver one now?) Bentley. The glamorous lady on his arm is a friend Hannah Varland. 

 Jim's Byrnes Group was an official Sponsor for AMFAR. 
How the other half live !

Hot stuff at Royal Randwick

If you have any sense on Saturday you should be heading out to the Royal Randwick

Racecourse  for The Championships Day 2 Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes, one of the racing calender's premier dates.
The gees gees will be competing for mega prizes :
$1 million James Boag’s Premium Australian Oaks and the Group 1 $2 million Schweppes Sydney Cup. Wow! 
And look at the weather..it's going to be a glorious day. And we have a hot tip for punters, No not a race tip but if you keep your eyes peeled you may catch a glimpse of the latest Hollywood hunk to come out of this country- JAI COURTNEY.
OK Jai will be  wearing a tad more clothing than what he has on in our snap. After all they have a dress code at Randwick, collared shirt, tie and jacket but that's just part of the fun. And you can always imagine can't you?

Also at Randwick tomorrow will be Michelle Payne who made history last year as the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup. Have they made a movie of her life yet? They should. 
The gates open at 10.45am so I'd be early. Jai is expected to arrive around mid-day and there will heaps of other celebrities to gaze at. 

And that's what the races are all about.The chance to win some cash and thrill as the horses race as the excitement and tension builds up, and sip some champagne while star spotting. 
And anyone who hasn't yet checked out Randwick's magnificent new stand is really missing something

Spotted

This rather hirsute gentleman looking very relaxed  is Hollywood actor Jason Momoa who was imbibing in a latte at a local Adelaide cafe today.

Momoa appeared in the popular Game of Thrones TV series and starred in action films like Conan The Barbarian and Batman Vs Superman.

Jason has been shooting scenes for a new action film Aquaman in which he takes the title role along side co-stars Nicole Kidman and Amber Heard.

Whispers' spies are omnipresent !

Is it The End for the Black & White Committee?

Short answer is no but certainly in it's present form. The last of it's type, the Black & White Committee's annual ball at the Sydney Town Hall will be the last in it's present form. The Black & White Derby - where bright young gals reel in little wooden horses- is kaput. At this year's event the 80 year old tradition was put to bed.
But the Black & White Committee who have raised tens of millions of  $$$ over it's 80 year history will emerge next year in an exciting new form and we'll be the first to being you the news. Until then, here are a few snaps from the evening and a short video to show you what you missed. The B&W hard working ladies raise much needed funds for Vision Australia.

Eleven Bridge opens

Despite Sydney's nightlife seemingly vanishing before our very eyes with the new Lock Out laws, celebrity chef Neil Perry re-opened his Rock's restaurant as Eleven Bridge on Monday night. Previously named Rockpool, Perry closed the eatery six months ago.
A favourite with celebrities and fine diners- Whispers once sat at a table next to Joan Collins , Russell Crowe and media mogul Lachlan Murdoch (and that was a slow night), the foodie world was stunned when Perry suddenly closed up shop with a restaurant in a prime location and famed the world over.
But always one step ahead of his rivals, Perry had always planned to turn Rockpool into a more informal diner and Eleven Bridge was born.
You can peruse the new restaurants menu here but don't be too shocked at the prices. Hey, it's The Rocks and the NSW Government has just announced plans to spend $200M on refurbishing Circular Quay and The Rocks. Already a major tourist area it badly needs a re-vamp and Perry who also designs menus for Qantas is not one to miss a trick.

Barry wins the Archibald

 Louise Hearman's portrait of Barry Hunphries has won the 2016 Archibald portrait contest

Finalists 'Pat  by Alan Jones * Peter Weiss by Nicholas Harding* Deng by Nick Stathopolous* Self by Benjamin Aitken

                                                           Wendy Whiteley by Natasha Bieniek

Winner of the Wynne Prize:Spring Frost by Eiloth Gruner

           The Archibald Portrait exhibition is now open at the art Gallery of NSW : entry is free

Gratuitous Justin Bieber pix

Yes it's time for the latest Justin Bieber (semi) nude pix that has the internet going crazy. Whisper's spy disguised as an intern in the Calvin Klein advertising agency says The Bieber gets an extra $1M every time he does this. So that's OK then. What has this to do with Sydney?. Nothing, It's all about clickbait and we are shameless,

Nicholas has designs on Miami

Nicholas Huxley began studying at the Fashion Design school at East Sydney College in 1973, before working for a number of prominent fashion houses in Australia, He became head teacher of the Fashion Design Studio in 1990, a post he still holds. 

Now he has been commissioned  to set up a fashion design school at the Miami Dade College in the US and it's hard to think of a better choice. Almost every successful name in the Australian fashion scene has studied under Huxley . He's been nominated for numerous awards including  an Australian Film Institute Award for Best Costume Design for the film Sons of Steel and has been
asked to be a part of the annual Jeans for Genes art auction for five consecutive years. Nicholas has won two Fashion Industry of Australia awards and was nominated three times for the NSW Government Fashion Laureate in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
But for the next nine months Huxley will be living in Miami helping bring fashion to that great city. In the meantime he's busy furnishing his new apartment nearby the campus. So that's another Aussie taking over the world ! 
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 Exclusive on the 60 Minutes Beirut Kidnap Plot

While 60 Mins presenter Tara Brown and her film crew were sipping champagne in First Class on a flight back to Sydney today, one of those involved in the matter remained in jail He is Adam Whitington an ex-UK policeman and  head of the Child Abduction Recovery agency. No being whisked through Sydney Airport by Nine's top PR Victoria Buchan for Whitington.

Gatto                           Obeid                       Depp & Heard

All manner of characters seem to be coming out of the woodwork including former NSW MP Eddie Obeid (we reported on how his 6'4" drag queen nephew was intending to turn up to court in support of his Lebanese born uncle when he was under ICAC scrutiny) and now Melbourne "underground" figure Mick Gatto has claimed he was asked to help negotiate the 60 minutes crew's release. Quite how Gatto, the boss of a building scaffolding firm could assist is a mystery although completely unnoticed by the Oz media, Gatto supplied the security for Johnny Depp and Amanda Heard when they arrived and left a Southport court for the great Boo & Pistol Scandal. 
 
But a blogger who goes by the name of Anna Raccoon (she is a retired British lawyer) has come up with some new info on Whittington who was involved in the mysterious Madeleine McCann affair. 
Read Anna Raccoon's article here 

A Girl From Oz

Lyndall Hobbs is an ex-Australian TV journalist who moved to London in the 70s and began a relationship with the theatrical impresario Michael White (Rocky Horror Show) who passed away recently and was the subject of Gracie Otto's award winning documentary The Last Impresario.
Lyndall lived with Michael White for 10 years and their house in trendy Egerton Crescent in West London was the "salon" of 70s London where she introduced 'Chalky' White to some emerging Australian talent like Jim Sharman, Barry Humphries and Martin Sharp (and even Whispers).
This is only one chapter in her fabulous life story from her new book "A Girl From Oz". When her affair with White ended she moved to New York and lived for many years with the actor Al Pacino. 
Hobbs now runs a highly successful design business in Los Angeles where some of Hollywood's biggest show business names are her clients.The book is fascinating reading about a person who has lived a rich and rewarding life. Available in all good books stores (the ones that are left) . Buy it for a glimpse of a fascinating era, the 1970s to early 90s.