Gordana Wears Her Faith to the Hermes Beach Party

 Hermes was throwing a no-shoes beach bash at Nielsen Park and the conditions were perfect as the overbearing and humid weather held off for the day. Party starved Sydney socialites were out in force as dozens arrived in a stream of black limousines.

Natalie Imbruglia & Nickey Joye

Tucked into a roped off section of the beach at the David Grant designed party set : 6 giant Hermes bracelets, a barbecue and several bars serving champagne and cocktails.

Noticeably absent were Sydney's social media who for some unknown reason gave the do a  miss.

Gordana & Mary

Perhaps It was something to do with Hermes boss Karin Upton Baker's on-going dramas. Financially embattled husband Gary Baker looking stressfully slim, arrived  in a humble Toyota albeit with his signature  XXX number plates. The Rolls and Bentley went months ago. And how she did it is a mystery but Karin would have made Houdini proud when she seemingly materialised in the middle of the party crowd thus avoiding the paparazzi.

Lara Bingle & pal

Guests were still arriving at 7.30pm while some who had come earlier were already leaving including designer Trent Nathan who declared 'that's enough' after 30 minutes, Gracie Otto who sped of in a Mercedes on an urgent errand and film producer Margaret Fink who said the sand was playing havoc with her calves.

Gordana Willesee was happy to show off the new tattoo snaking up her arm. A Mother Mary perfectly executed for the committed Catholic who along with husband Mike Willesee had a private meeting with Pope Benedict XV1 during his Aussie visit in 2008.

Erica Heynatz & Andrew Kingston

 Natalie Imbruglia slipped in with a pal.. She'd been spotted earlier that day zipping around town with Justin Hemmes in his 1960's Porsche.

Lara Bingle , Rebel Penfold Russell, Di Hamill, James Gordon, Jonathon Ward, Mandy Quinn, Greg Daniels Gary & Susie Rothwell and restaurateurs Michael & Judy McMahon and almost anyone connected to the fashion industry were amongst the 250 guests.

And we loved  Miss Teen Age International & water skiing champ cum boxer Lauryn Eagle's  'pimp-mobile'- a huge Chevy bearing silver letters on the boot saying MORE MONEY. She roared up to the entrance with South African born boxing champ LoveMore N'dou.

Eventually fleets of luxury buses arrived to transport guests to a mystery destination as guest Pam Murray observed they were part of her husband's 2000 strong fleet.

And the fashion hit of summer (apart from the Hermes accessories worn by most ) featured by at least 8 guests: Camilla Frank's caftans.

Collette Dinigan & Bradley Cocks

James Gordon

Lauryn Eagle & LoveMore N'dou

Julie Schaeffer & friend

Mark Cavanagh, Penny McCarthy, Rebel Russell, Warren Fahey

Guilleume Sadourny & Terry Schwamberg

Family Get-Together at Theatre Awards

Shaw & Garcia at the Sydney Theatre Awards

Watching and cheering on the Sydney Theatre Awards on Monday evening at the Paddington RSL was the journalist,  voice-over man and super salesman Tim Shaw best known for his "but there's more !" catch phrase in the Demtel TV advertisements. Tim is currently a broadcaster on Radio 2UE where he presents 'Legal Matters with Tim Shaw', an informative show that delves into listener's legal rights.

Lesser known is the fact that he is also a cousin of Adam Garcia, the handsome actor currently wowing audiences in Tap Dogs and the affection between the two was evident as they warmly embraced each other upon arrival at the awards.
But has Tim ever presented Adam with a set of those famous steak knives?

"not yet " says Shaw, "maybe at the next family barbecue".

Yeah Yeah !-Shane's Hair May Go Viral

He may be listed  in the cricket bible, Wisden's Cricket Almanack as one of the five greatest cricketers of the century but one British TV guest had some unkind words about Shane Warne on a YouTube clip about to go to viral heaven.

Sadly Warne's own chat show bit the dust just weeks ago before he was really given a chance to shine despite having the sort of high profile guests any presenter would die to interview. Fortunately Shane still has his lucrative Advanced Hair Studios contract to fall back.

However Australian born publisher Carmen Callil of Virago Press isn't too impressed with Aussie cricketers or their hair and uttered the almost forbidden word on the hugely popular British BBC program Newsnight demonstrating a distinct lack of solidarity from the publisher of female writers including the famous Margaret Atwood.  
Pink News is outraged :

When Two Tribes Go To War

A publishing battle is brewing in the exclusive confines of chic Double Bay as a new publication-Latte Life finds itself in the firing line of the established Wentworth Courier.


The Courier, published for over 70 years has always jealously guarded it's Eastern Suburbs market with a near monopoly on the rivers of gold in classified  and real estate advertising.

Each week the Courier thuds on resident's doorsteps with pages packed with glossy adverts for everything from an affordable Cloveley bungalow to harbour side mansions selling for tens of millions of dollars.

Latte Life  burst on the scene 3 months ago when publisher Jane King decided that Double Bay needed it's own publication concentrating on the cafe life of the fashionable suburb. Jane believes The Bay has been neglected and that the Courier has gone in too top heavy promoting  the giant Westfield shopping centre in Bondi Junction which she believes is strangling business in the village type atmosphere of Double Bay.

"I was brought up in England and always loved High Streets and village shopping centres" says Jane. "I spotted a gap in the market with Latte Life and the response has been fantastic".

Now columnists on Latte Life have suddenly found themselves on the receiving end of job offers from rival publiciations . It seems there maybe even more publications opening up in the area.

Goldberg :"30 years too late"

'Mr Double Bay' Graeme Goldberg , owner of Dee Bees one of the Bay's most popular restaurants has just started to write a column for Latte Life about the happenings in the area. With his impeccable show business connections it was a smart move on the part of Latte Life. Two days after his first column appeared  Goldberg found 3 representatives from an unamed rival magazine  in his cafe. They offered him a n increase in pay if he shifted to them to write a column.

Goldberg said "they were 30 years too late.  The Courier has always been very supportive of me and I love the new Latte Life but that's how long I've run businesses around here and suddenly I'm in demand everywhere !"
Other advertisers in Latte Life have found themselves approached by media salesmen suggesting better advert rates could be had with another publication if they wished to move their custom.

Over ten years ago the Courier had it's dominance of the area challenged when 20 real estate agents formed a syndicate and published the weekly Eastern Express with pages packed with classifieds. Soon both were  in an advertising price war. But a court challenge  from the Express and a claim of 'predatory pricing' against the Wentworth Courier finished off the challenger. The Eastern Express lost the case and were landed with the debilitating legal costs.

Jane says she isn't worried. "I don't have real estate advertising or take escort service classifieds so I'm not really competing for the bulk of  the Courier's advertisers. And hopefully some competition will make the Courier up it's anti"

She plans to branch out with Latte Life and it's cheery mix of social snaps, gossipy stories and interviews with famous locals with it's present 20,000 copies a month and increase the paper's circulation area to outlying suburbs and take on the Courier with it's 50,000 weekly copies.

The market-Sydney's ritzy Eastern Suburbs contains the biggest concentration of Australia's wealthiest citizens along with a huge swathe of  young professionals, wealthy retirees, gays and lesbians and those working in the arts and the movie industry. It's a marketer's dream target so much so that  the London School of Economics once used the Wentworth Courier in it's lectures to students as an example of a newspaper that was perfectly pitched to reach a specific audience.

There could be room for a third newspaper and locals would be the winners. Looks like an interesting battle  ahead.

Successful Cross Promotions # 1

Alex Perry

 One of Australia's most  popular fashion designers Alex Perry appeared last night on the panel show 'Talkin Bout Your Generation' compered by comedian Shaun Micallef.

Perry, lying in a bed with panelist Amanda Keller was posed a sticky question-to identify a mystery gurgling sound.

Alex quickly responded : "the sound of an Electrolux washing machine in the spin cycle" he correctly answered to a hearty round of studio applause.

The fact that Perry has an ongoing promotional marketing deal with Electrolux Home Products is entirely co-incidental !

Geofrey Rush Nominated for BAFTA

The nominations for the prestige British 'Oscars', the BAFTAs have just been announced with Geoffrey Rush up for Best Supporting Actor in The King's Speech:

Watch our video (courtesy of IGN ) of the nominations with young actors Dominic Cooper and Tallulah Riley making the announcements . For a full list of the nominations go to the BAFTA website.

Some Joy For Geoffrey Rush & Sly Stallone Loves Jackie

Lucy Durack

Pippa Grandison & David Wenham

He may not have picked up a gong at the Golden Globe Awards but Geoffrey Rush scored some accolades at last night's Sydney Theatre Awards when the production of Diary of A Madman in which Geoffrey stars won 4 awards : Best Supporting Actress, Best Costume, Best Lighting Design and Best Score. 

A host of theatricals like David Wenham, Pippa Grandison, Gia Carrides and Susie Porter attended the awards at the Paddington RSL Club.

Rush is the executive producer of The King's Speech so he should feel some satisfaction in it's Best Film award last night at the Globes and Jackie Weaver, despite being a non-winner still  has a staggering nine nominations in various US  film awards for her role in Animal Kingdom and she is sure to be nominated for an Oscar

Adam Garcia at the awards

Jackie is drowning in compliments on her US promotional tour with a host of Globe attendees heaping praise upon her. She told the Shuttle this morning from LA that she had met Sylvester Stallone, Mel Brooks and Colin Firth who all approached her on the night to congratulate her. She has also received dozens of offers of work and is carting a pile of scripts around to read on her nationwide tour.

Diary of A Madman demonstrates Geoffrey Rush's extraordinary commitment to live theatre. He commands up to $5 million a picture but is working for union wages in the state subsidised Belvoir Street Theatre

The Shuttle watched Geoffrey's wonderful performance in the 150 seat theatre at last Sunday's matinee.

Within 3 hours of the curtain falling Rush was on a Qantas jet to Los Angeles to attend the Golden Globe Awards. At mid-day today, Rush was again in the air for the 18 hour trip back to Sydney to appear in Wednesday evening's production.

Now that is dedication !

"inspiration"

At the Sydney Theatre Awards, legendary Shakespearean actor and director John Bell  (left ) received a Lifetime Achievement award. John revealed the inspiration for his theatre career-as a child in the UK watching George Formby (right) performing.

Other awards received: Scott Rankin for Best New Production with Namatjira, the play about the Aboriginal artist with indigenous actor Derek Lynch receiving an award for Best Newcomer. Another indigenous performer Christine Anu won Best Performance in a Musical while Trevor Ashley received the award for Best Cabaret in his one-man show I'm Every Woman.

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.
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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.
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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.

A Demure Shazza Heads Home

On Wednesday she was sunning herself on the beach at Acapulco.

Marketing manager Sharon Sargeant, the girlfriend of private eye Frank Monte is now on a plane after a four hour taxi  trip from Acapulco to Mexico City and a flight from there to Los Angeles where she was finally able to get a seat on a Qantas jet  back to Sydney.

Sharon has been watching in alarm as flood waters surged through Queensland and in Northern NSW and in particular Tenterfield where members of her family live. On Wednesday she reckoned she could wait no longer and decided to head home and  see if she could help out in the devastated flood areas.

Sharon may be pleased with a newspaper article that will greet her upon arrival. The Eastern Suburb's social bible, Latte Life has commented on her appearance at the Black & White charity luncheon for Christian the Lion's John Rendall in November last year.

Demure !

According to the tabloid : "thumbs up to a demure "Shazza" at BW  Women's  Luncheon , if she hadn't been with Mr Monte we may not have recognised her."

Demure ?. We present a couple of snaps of Sharon from the lunch. 

Meanwhile Frank Monte is spending a few more days in Acapulco before he heads to Italy. Monte has an appointment with the powerful AntiMafia Commission in Rome which investigates "organised crime of the Mafia type" and the dreaded Camorra and Ndrhangeta clans.

 

When the Shuttle managed to get Monte on the telephone today we asked him if his Rome visit was in connection with new claims by Italian  investigative reporter Gianluigi Nuzzi that Gianni Versace was murdered by the mafia.

"I can't discuss anything with you " said Monte. "excuse me, I have to take another call " he said before hanging up !

Shuttle Staffer Could Be Mr Bondi !

Mr Bondi ?

Proving age is no barrier to a beauty contest, Social Shuttle contributor Bill Ranken has made the finals of the Mr Bondi quest to be held next Saturday at the chic restaurant, Bondi Social overlooking Bondi Beach.

Having turned 80 last March, Ranken is disgustingly healthy and runs 4 miles every morning. Over the Christmas holiday period he was down on his Southern Highlands property helping build miles of fences before taking off on a dirt bike to round up sheep.

Ranken divides his time between two vast country properties. The largest one Lochersly is regarded as one of the state's most desirable estates with it's Georgian house, award winning grounds and gardens and sweeping acres of rolling green hills. It's been in the family for 4 generations of the hardy Scotsmen.

 During the week he steps out every night from a harbour side Elizabeth Bay pied-e-terre to attend parties. 

He's known as the Grey Gadabout. If something opens Ranken will be there with a camera , notebook and pen.  He moves seamlessly between all strata's of society equally at home lunching with Rupert Murdoch or at a wharf labourer's booze-up on the docks. The Shuttle first met him in London nearly 30 years ago. He arrived at a Gilbert & George  art exhibition with Princess Margaret on his arm.

"Apparently there are no qualifications to be in this quest" says Ranken, "apart from having a Bondi connection". Which he has every Friday on radio Bondi FM with his 'Peep Show' gossip segment.

"I think it would be rather nice to win something" he says. "before they put me in the ground". 

" But I still plan to be around for a lot longer" he said. " I'm having fun meeting the new generation of pretty young girls on the scene"

.

" Mind you 20 years ago when I was introduced to them I was able to say I took their mother out once. Last week I ran into two 20 somethings at a party and realised I had dated their grandmothers !"

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Tania

Competing with Bill Ranken At next Saturday's Mr Bondi final will be Joker Poker TV host Mike Goldman .

Mike

Mike was ecstatic at getting through to the quest final and took a bunch of pals back to his pad to celebrate where he had a spectacular run-in with a bottle of champagne.

Goldman's pal, actress Tania Zaetta (who has become a huge star in Bollywood films) had put the bottle in Mike's freezer earlier in the evening and forgotten about it. The bottle exploded as Goldman reached into his freezer. He spent the night at Randwick hospital and says he hopes to pick up the sympathy vote on Saturday.

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Oh dear.

Just one day ago we brought readers the tale of how 2 psychics, Tom and Kevin  from The Yellow Cloud Circle of Eternal Illumination in Montcabirol, France are touting their materialisation demonstrations in Sydney next month. Their website has some glowing endorsements from past visitors to their sessions including one gentleman who was thrilled to glimpse a vision of Michael Jackson who sent the following message from the ether:

"there will be no recurrences with people who have been accused of my death. I did not commit suicide. Although I take full responsibility for my death. There should be no charges brought from anybody. I am totally responsible for my passing."

Today his medico Dr Conrad Murray was  told by an LA Superior Court judge that he must stand trial for Jackson's involuntary manslaughter.

exclusive : Michael Jackson - It Was An Accident !

A missive arrives from the Australian lawyer Victor Zammit who authored a book titled : A Lawyer Presents The Evidence For Life After Death. 

Mr Zammitt now retired, is a sort of psychic detective and seeks proof of the afterlife. He's on the hit-list of various skeptics organisations but beavers away to prove we will continue after this plane of existence. On his website you can read 'what happens when you die'.

In his message Victor has invited the Shuttle to attend a demonstration of  

'physcial  mediumship" in which various things will happen-trumpets blaring, tables tipping , musical instruments played by spirits,  flashing lights and such. Even more exciting there promises to be 'materialisations'.

The seance is to be conducted by 2 gentlemen, Tom and Kevin  from The Yellow Cloud Circle of Eternal Illumination in Toulouse in France.

Freddie's hand

A quick visit to their website reveals some remarkable testimonials. We were particularly drawn to one from Isabelle Duchene from Belgium who attended 2 seances and was privileged to see Freddie Mercury's hand appear from under a curtain !. She knows the hand belonged to Freddie because:

"spirit has confirmed it was the hand of Freddie Mercury the lead singer of Queen. Freddie sang with us on the song that was played, 'don't stop me' now that was made famous by the group "

Mr Zammit himself has left a glowing tribute after one seance he attended where  Michael Jackson appeared with the following words :

'Hello! My name is  Michael Joseph Jackson: I've come here today..

This is very difficult..difficult for me. I have  come back today to say there will be no recurrences with people who have been accused of my death. I did not commit suicide. Although I take full responsibility for my death. There should be no charges brought from anybody. I am totally responsible for my passing.  That is all I wanted to say. And I will carry on my work from this side of life. And I hope that the world will listen this time. Thank you ".

Anyone have a contact number for Dr. Conrad Murray ?

On Monday preliminary hearings took place to determine if Murray should stand trial for involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death in June 25, 2009. When the case is dropped-remember you read it here first.

Here's Freddie Mercury singing 'I Want To Break Free' which he did do eventually.

Former Foes Love-In & Germaine Greer Speaks Out

From a political standpoint they are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

 Bob Ellis, poetic writer, darling of the left and a speech writer for the Australian Labor Party and the conservative Catholic politician and Federal Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott.

In Ellis's new book  Suddenly Last Winter-An Election Diary Bob gets stuck into a few Labor Party heavies while announcing his admiration for Abbott.

On Prime Minister Julia Gillard  he says she is  "not well informed". He says Gillard is part of a Melbourne clique called the Mouse Pack, a reference to the size of their intellect.

Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald  Ellis said : 

" She hasn't I think read a novel or seen a film that has subtitles and I doubt if she has read Encounter or The New Statesmen or Vanity Fair or The London Review of Books or The New York Review of Books and therefore she doesn't have a hinterland. She has not much except a kindergarten sandpit response to things-'Nyah Nyah you're just jealous because I'm Prime Minister and you're not' "

" Civilised people already have their hands over their faces when she speaks!"

Ellis has form in courting those from the right. Often spotted lunching with Christopher Hitchers when in town or the famed right leaning poet Les Murray. And he has expressed an odd admiration for the xenophobic Pauline Hanson who Ellis swears attempted to pick him in a Surfer's Paradise bar long before her political career took off

But it's the astonishing turn around in his relationship with the political love-child  of the strange Catholic theologian and political fixer B.A.Santamaria and Margaret Thatcher-Tony 'Mad Monk'Abbot that is raising eyebrows.

Several years ago Tony Abbot and his wife along with a  fellow cabinet minister Peter Costello and his wife sued Ellis and Random House over Bob's new book Goodbye  Jerusalem and Ellis was badly bruised to the tune of a $277,000 libel payout that came right upon his uninsured Palm Beach home burning to the ground in a bush fire.

Ellis says he has just about forgiven Tony Abbot  over that episode and invited Abbot to launch one of his books a year ago which Abbot did.

The Opposition Leader who once studied to be a priest openly admires  the philosophies of the late B.A.Santamaria who railed against Communism and socialism in the 1960's, split the Labor Party and  in the 1930s supported Mussolini and Franco.

"resembles F.Scott Fitzgerald"

But Ellis reckons Tony Abbott  may be a closet socialist :

"He is no more a Liberal than I am . Liberal is the name of the suit he is wearing. He is actually a Catholic socialist. He's DLP [Democratic Labor Party] and always has been."

Ellis goes further in his SMH interview : "The person he most resembles, I've just decided, is F.Scott Fitzgerald. The classic good looks, big flashing smile, easy Irish eloquence, angelic writing style, self-doubt, Catholic guilt, hot temper, Gatsby-like yearnings for past relationships long gone and luminous in remembrance, fondness for football and self-flagellation and his need for a son, all bespeak a literary genius drawn by life and lesser pursuits into spiritual shallows and drunken remorse like Scott, poor Scott."

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Writing in the UK Guardian newspaper Germaine Greer has slammed American architect Frank Gehy's plans for the new University of Technology describing the building as "five scrunched up brown bags"

The building (pictured) is to replace the ugly concrete bunker that stands on the proposed site and when the model was release the UTS Vice Chancellor Ross Milbourne said "We've got the Opera House, and it's hard to say we are going to beat that, but from what I've seen we'll have an equally outstanding icon at this end of Sydney." 

Responds Greer:" The Sydney Opera House may be one of the best known structures in the world, but it is also a worse building than anything Gehry would want to put his name to. The original design by Danish architect Jorn Utzon was rejected by the Australian judges in 1956, only to be reinstated. By the time the opera house opened in 1973, it was more than 10 times over budget. Utzon struggled to protect his vision of a building made of sails until 1966, when he was obliged to close his Sydney office and return to Denmark, because the New South Wales state government would not meet his fees. Government architects took over the project.

 The full story is here.

Tragic Day for Top Models

Ashley & Jessica Hart

On Thursday the Shuttle brought you the story of how gaped tooth model Jessica Hart will be replacing Jennifer Hawkins at the G'Day Australia USA promotions in LA. Jessica is in high demand in the USA and is well on the way to becoming as popular as new mum Miranda Kerr.

Today Jessica and her equally beautiful sister Ashley are recovering from a distressing scene they witnessed at an up-market Portsea Polo event in Melbourne on Saturday.

As invited guests of the polo committee the 2 models toured the various sponsor's marquees throughout the day and were later resting by the field when one of the polo horses tumbled right in front of the pair. Before they could comprehend what was happening, a quick tent was erected around the unfortunate horse and Jessica and Ashley were startled by the sound of a gunshot as the animal was put out of it's misery.

Both girls were highly distressed as the truth dawned. Last night they cancelled an appearance at a lavish dinner planed to celebrate the day's matches and instead, dined at a local Portsea pub with a few close friends.

Justin Drops Natalie Imbruglia for Younger Model

Courtney Chircop

 Now that Natalie Imbruglia is back in the UK after a brief romance with Sydney nightclub king Justin Hemmes, a new girlfriend has appeared on the scene-top model Courtney Chircop. 

Hemmes, said to be worth around $500M with his burgeoning hotel and nightclub empire that employs over 2000 people, met 20 year old Courtney at a dinner party 2 weeks ago and she accompanied him to the  wedding of the L.J. Hooker real estate empire heir, Januz Hooker at Ulhuru last week.

Justin Hemmes

Friends say the 2 were all over each other at the wedding reception and once back at their hotel, didn't surface for 24 hours until their flight back to Sydney.

Courtney was discovered on the 2008 TV reality show Make Me A Supermodel and thus, she has become one with Elle McPherson's agency Chadwicks snapping her up. 

And a scandal that cropped up during the show didn't affect her career. It surfaced  that she and 2 other girls at the snooty West Australia high school they attended had tried to sell a mobile phone sex tape video.

"As soon as it happened I was over it the next day and it hasn't held me back one bit " says Courtney.

George Michael Blows In- Festival Kicks Off

Slipping quietly into town, George Michael has taken up residence in a Whale Beach house for summer. Although one report has him actually buying the house, our mole disguised as a potted palm in a realtor's office says Michael has rented the house for 3 months along with an apartment in the luxury Icon building in Kings Cross where he stayed earlier this year. His neighbours at the Icon-the Crown Prince and Princess of Japan who own a magnificent penthouse there  but are yet to stay in it.

George was last year's special guest at the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras and spent 2 months holidaying on the Oxford Street Golden Gay Mile drinking in numerous bars. He seems to have fallen in love with the local lads.

Meanwhile Emmy Lou Harris has arrived for the Sydney Festival that opened on Saturday. She sang at last night's Hyde Park concert and will be at the State Theatre with her Red Dirt Boys tonight and Monday.

John Malkovich will be here next Wednesday to prepare for his appearance in  the Giacomo Variations at the Sydney Opera House while Arrested Development have taken up residence in the Beck's Festival Bar at the Hyde Park Barracks and one not to be missed-Mac Con Lomaire and his band will be appearing in the sensational Spiegeltent in Hyde Park. If you have never been inside the Spiegeltent you haven't lived !

There is heaps more on. Some notables- Los Lobos will be at the Enmore Theatre on 14th January, 5 international dance troupes including the Trocodero Dance Palace-they were at the opening party last night with some brilliant and energetic 50's dance routines. 8 art shows and installations at various venues, a program of rare films at Sydney University, heaps of free music shows all over the place and a series of talks not to be missed including John Malkovich at the Town Hall in conversation with Rocky Horror legendary director Jim Sharman, Phillip Glass (left) with Paul Grabolsky and singer Paul Kelly with Richard Kingsmill.

Phew-and that's just a few of the great local and international entertainment which lasts until the 30th of January and then of course, it starts all over again with the Mardi Gras festival which means you may run into George Michael on his nightly pub crawl up Oxford Street Darlinghurst (his favourite bar- the Midnight Shift!)

Knives Out After Oprah Winfrey Trip

She held the country in the palm of her hand for 10 days. (Or should that be the local media ?)
Oprah Winfrey's tour of Australia and the recording of what will be her final 2 shows at the Sydney Opera House was treated by the Aussie media like the second coming.

When the Social Shuttle reported that 12 of her security detail had been sacked without pay because one had the temerity to enter her hotel room to check that it was secure, only 2 tabloid reporters followed up the tale.

Despite us being unable to give our source (protected) we did hand them on to the local law firm acting for Winfrey's Harpo company. They denied the tale but within a day the 12 guards were told they would be paid after all. The Shuttle witnessed documents that confirmed the story.

Now an American who has been living in Cairns and operating two successful tour boats around the Great Barrier Reef is hopping mad.

John "The Yank" VandenHeuvel  says he approached Tourism Australia 6 years ago with an ambitious plan to bring Oprah Winfrey to Australia. And the outline of his plans were basically identical to Oprah's tour as it unfolded over her 10 day visit. VandenHeuval proposed tying in Oprah's visit with Qantas and their ambassador, actor John Travolta and rewarding a number of Oprah's regular audience members with the "trip of a lifetime"

Backing VandenHeuval's claim is the Opposition Immigration spokesman Scott Morrison who was the head of Tourism Australia at the time. Pilot Dennis Wallace says he flew Morrison to Cairns to discuss the project which was common knowledge amongst the majority of local tour operators.

 “Tourism Australia has done the wrong thing, it is very un-Australian,” says Mr Wallace.

“It is not about the money, this is about Tourism Australia blatantly lying,” says VandenHeuval

“They reneged on the deal, cut me out of it and cut Cairns out of it and Cairns ended up getting screwed as bad as I did.”

VandenHeuval says he spent $200,000 on the project and while Tourism Australia acknowledged to the Shuttle that they had met with him in 2004 they declined to discuss details.

VandenHeuval has instructed high powered solicitors Slater and Gordon to issue proceedings against the government body and is claiming  $2Million in damages.

Miranda Kerr's Family Heartbreak

Model Miranda Kerr's grandparents Peter and Anne Kerr are recovering after a lightning strike burnt their Gunnedah home to the ground yesterday.

With Australia's current bout of inclement weather, a fierce storm swept through the area in the afternoon with lightning striking the house, awakening  Peter Kerr from his afternoon nap. Although fire crews were on the scene within the hour the house was razed by fire fanned by strong winds. The pair who have been avid supporters of Miranda's modelling career lost their lifetime collection of antiques.

Last year Miranda and her husband actor Orlando Bloom travelled to Gunnedah to meet Miranda's family after the pair announced their engagement. Her grandparents still plan to travel to Los Angeles later this month to be there when the couple's first child is born.