drop your gear for Spencer

Nude artist Spencer Tunick is coming to the 2010 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras in March and is calling on all gays and lesbians to be prepared to take off their clothes for one of his mass nude snaps, on the Golden Gay Mile of Oxford Street.

The work will be called The Base and all body shapes, sexualities and preference are welcome. Will the legendary Dykes On Bikes participate ?. The once topless ladies on Harley's who lead the opening of the parade went all coy about 4 years ago when their topless snaps started appearing world-wide and on various porn websites.

There's a sort of schizophrenic attitude here.

Once a year normally reserved people let their hair down, fling open the wardrobe door and burst out in gleeful abandonment, screeching slogans about gay rights before heading off to the mass party of thousands that usually ends up in a drugged seething mass grope in the underground facilities.Come Monday they retreat back to their day jobs as chartered accountants, school teachers etc. Or in my case with the 6' horrendous drag queen in a vintage YSL ball gown who slapped me on the back half-way up Oxford Street with a maniacal look in his eyes-the bench at Downing Street Courts where he presides as a very sober magistrate,

The Shuttle experienced this mini Sodom & Gomorrah (without participating) at the last G & L Mardi Gras we attended when we accompanied 'movie star" Rupert Everett who was the special guest in 2007. Unless one swallows huge quantities of drugs (and most do) it's the most tiresome night of the year. Hours spent in the VIP room peering down on the seething mass of people circling the cavernous dance floor swaying in time to whatever DJ Boy George says goes. And just to catch a glimpse of the star act like Kylie Minouge lip syncing at 4am. Maybe we are just past it. Getting bitter as we age.

Apparently getting your gear of with a few hundred others is liberating. But is art ?. Whatever turns you on.

If the idea turns you on-sign up here : www.mardigras.org.au/tunick

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Only 2 weeks after his successful exhibition at the National Trust, artist Martin Sharp and the art world is in shock with the brutal murder yesterday of Sharp's curator, the respected art figure Antony Waterlow OAM whose body was found along with his slain daughter, the popular food writer and publicist Chloe Waterlow in her Randwick house. Chloe's young daughter is clinging to life after her throat was slashed and her 2 young sons who escaped unscathed are being cared for by family members as husband Ben Heuston rushes back from London.

Sharp attended a party at the University of NSW Roundhouse onSaturday night with Waterlow . Police have one suspect- a family member who was seen near the home shortly after the murders.
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The awful tragedy that has struck the Waterlow family is having far reaching effects in many areas. Australia's most renowned painter Margaret Olley has spoken affectionately of the gentle Waterlow who she housed when he first arrived from the UK 40 years ago.

Police have only one suspect-a family member who suffers from schizophrenia. Over 15 years ago the state government in a rash move closed the many excellent hospitals that dealt with mental illness on the claim that patients should be housed in the community.

The battles that have ensured since over the valuable land where these hospitals were located-some by the harbour, have been long and bitter. Sadly, the then government minister who oversaw this action has gone on record proclaiming his mistake after both his sons committed suicide while they were suffering from depression.

tabloid fantasies..

A devastating tale in the Murdoch tabloid, the Daily Telegraph of the sale of the late Johnny Baker's Edgecliff apartment.

It reports : "Now, with the passing of the legendary society "walker", Baker's executor has listed his small but fashionably located flat with expectations of $700,000 plus. Its online listing with Century 21's Tony Moses has brought an outpouring of tales."

Oh really ?. Why would a slew of society maidens-all who live in lavish Eastern Suburb's mansions give a toss about Bake's apartment being flogged ?.

The fact that Century 21 are huge advertisers with News Ltd is entirely co-incidental. Spoting free plugs for the Teles' advertisers is like looking for the endless mentions of Murdoch's cable TV channel Foxtel. Too easy.

Lady Sonia McMahon and the late Bakes.

this man should see a doctor..

Now it's Geoffrey The Movie..

For those who can't wait for the autobiography of former top sport's broadcaster Rob Astbury who devotes a few pages to the life of the flamboyant Dr Geoffrey Edelsten-now comes the movie.

And it has some top stars including Seinfeld's Jason Alexander and Fran Drescher from The Nanny.

Narrated by Alexander, it's the love story of how Edelsten, 66 and his fiancee, 26 year Las Vegas fitness worker Brynne Gordon met in Hollywood. It's also an action thriller-Geoffrey clambering in and out of limos and expensive autos-shopping at Gucci, Cartier,Ralph Lauren, Hermes- in fact the whole of Rodeo Drive gets a look-in. Geoffrey on his yacht. Geoffrey entering the Beverley Wiltshire Hotel. Geoffrey emerging from the Beverley Wiltshire Hotel. Geoffrey racing down the street in his fleet of cars- a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, a Bentley. a block long Hummer in which he collects his future bride. Geoff in black helicopter..Lear Jet. You get the idea

 Alexander asks us : "what do Barbara Streisand, Shia LaBeouf, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sean Penn, Adam Sandler, Michael Douglas and Geoffrey have in common ?" "why there all Jewish of course". Fame by association !. Edelsten's career has included a stint as a nightclub owner, rock manager and the boss of dozens of medical clinics. He once owned a football team, The Swans. He also did a stint inside for attempting to hire the disappeared  hit man Christopher Dale Flannery to deal with a troubesome patient. He got struck off. None of this gets featured in the flick. It's a feel good film.                                 

                                                                        

  The movie's a prelude to his planned sumptuous wedding to Brynne in a few weeks at the Crown Casino in Melbourne. Fran Dresher will officiate at the wedding which some say is financed by a $5M mortgage. We don't know if Geoffrey's film has a release date. Ain't Love grand ?.

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great master at work..

His works don't hang in the more sedate galleries but he was a surprise guest at television producer Mike Goldman's 37th birthday at the Sahria Restaurant at Bondi Beach on Saturday night. Goldman has been host an numerous radio shows and did the voice-overs for Big Brother and the terrifying British show filmed in Northern NSW-"I'm A Celebrity Get me Out Of Here".

Looking a bit like a young Rod Stewart, we present portrait artist Pricasso. Pricasso has a unique act-he dips his foreskin in paint and whips up a portrait of a guest in around 20 minutes. He does it nude.With a strategically placed palette. Pricsso's pretty popular at Sexpos and erotic fairs in far flung places like Johannseburg , Sao Paulo and Mexico City. He traces his pedigree back to 1550 and is descended from a long line of noted British surgeons named Patch.

Quite what they would think of their descendant Timothy Patch and his penis paintings is anyone's guess. At least he still continues the family's interest in physiology. Pricasso produces his own paints-we didn't dare ask how, and needs a week or 2 off between appearances because of "wear and tear".

here is the prick artist at work :

Coals to Newcastle..

Local cops reckon he is a major figure in organised crime but the ever so charming nightclub entrepreneur John Ibrahim is credited with re-inventing the Kings Cross nightclub scene with an interest in 20 venues. Now help is on hand for the ailing Golden Gay Mile of Sydney's Oxford  Street which has fallen on hard times.

One of America's most famous transexuals Amanda Lapore, a young hybrid version of the older Amanda Lear and Joyce Wilderstein will open the new club Nevermind tonight. For 15 years Oxford Street has boomed as young hetero-sexual kids flocked to numerous discos and bars, oblivious to sexual labels. Now most straight kids are flooding to the Cross with it's amazing revival in top spots like Hugos, Candy's Apartment, Kit'n'Kaboodle, Lady Lux and the Mandalay Room.

  Lepore, model, fashion icon, nightlife hostess and performer has been the advertising face for Mac cosmetics and a variety of fashion labels and had her sex-change operation at 15 courtesy of then boyfriend, a plastic surgeon. She's been under the knife ever since refining various body parts.

But how will she fare in a street blessed with more drag queens and trannies per square mile than any on earth and which makes the legendary Singapore's Boogie Street (now demolished) look like it was a Sunday school picnic?

Sydney cocks in frocks are known for their cutting tongues and often, bruising upper-cuts. Word is out that some of the town's more high profile drag-queens are a somewhat miffed at this ring-in being invited to launch the new nightclub. She could always call upon Ibrahim's bouncers for help if needed. They  also guard the gay strip's nightspots. We'll see tonight at the launch party-billed as Saturday Fucking Night-whether there is a stiletto stand-off between Amanda and her local contemporaries.

Henson re-emerges..

18 months after the controversy swirled around the removal of his photographs of naked adolescents, photographic artist Bill Henson appeared at the Art Gallery of NSW to launch a book by one of his greatest supporters, gallery director Edmund Capon

Capon's I Blame Duchamp is a series of art essays and is the last offering before Capon's imminent retirement after 30 years of building the state gallery into one of the world's great cultural institutions.

As an assistant director of the Far Eastern Section at the world's greatest museum of art and design, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Capon was a relative unknown when hired to head the NSW Art Gallery for an interim period. He never left and has exhibited an amazing ability to schmooze politicians suffering from cultural cringe and wealthy benefactors alike, whilst enthusing an often apathetic public. Today, exhibitions draw capacity crowds and the legendary portrait contest, The Archibald creates endless controversy and has become an annual public favourite

Edmund has no plans for when he retires soon except to "travel back to London and tour Europe". "But I'll be back here to live" says Capon.

As for Henson who has exhibited at the Guggenheim Museum  in New York and at the Venice Bienalle, he went into a public hiatus when the chic Ros Oxley Gallery in Paddington was raided by police in May 2008 and 2 huge portraits of naked 13 year old youths were removed. He remains unfazed by the media frenzy that engulfed the nation and brought condemnation from the Prime Minister downwards as public figures lined up on opposing sides during the very public battle with claims of "kiddie porn". He revealed that many of his former youthful models had come forward as adults to lend him support. Ironically, the shock jock driven scandal sent prices of his work sky-high.

Alan's cumming...

Quite literally, apparently.

Alan Cumming is cumming. “I’m standing naked, masturbating,” Alan tells me over the phone when I ask where in the world he is, “where are you?” I tell him I’m standing in our interview booth and, unfortunately, I’m not masturbating. I clarify the question. “Oh, I see what you mean. I’m in New York,” says the Scottish-born performer.

Alan is also ‘cumming’ to Australia. Performing his popular show, I Bought A Blue Car Today, “but a slightly different version.” Alan explains that it will be the same show he performed during Mardi Gras in February, but “this time it’s only going to be me and a piano and a cello. Some of the songs have changed and stuff. It’s always kind of evolving,” says the cheeky interviewee.

Unfortunately, I can’t take the credit for the pun. Alan uses it himself, regularly. Most notably, and to good effect, for his fragrance and body care range – Cumming, a range that includes such sensuous items as: Cumming All Over, Cumming In A Bar, and Cumming Clean. Which will all leave you, ‘of course, smelling lightly of Cumming,’ according to the product website.

You can read more of Alan's interview at the Oz gay & lesbian website Same Same.

'Teflon John' lunches

It was a day to celebrate. The Melbourne Cup lunch at the uber-chic Ottos at Woolloomooloo Wharf.

Charlotte Dawson, John Ibrahim, Chelsea Mitchell (c)

For John  Ibrhaim, the handsome sun-tanned Kings Cross nightclub identity, he had another reason apart from the million dollar horse race-brother Fadi had been finally released on $1M bail surety after spending 6 weeks banged up on an alleged murder plot charge. Sadly for family patriarch John a condition of Fadi's bail was that he isn't to associate with his brothers. Amongst the group of glamorous blonds with Ibrahim was Australia's Next Top Model judge Charlotte Dawson.

Hosting a group of guests in one corner was retired radio king John Laws with wife 'Princess' Caroline. Society gynecologist Malcolm Coppleson , gossip writer William Petley and Jane Douglas lunched with Laws.

At another table sat Los Angeles based private eye Frank Monte. Monte announced his engagement to marketing manager Sharon Sargent right after Shocking won the Melbourne Cup at 3pm. Monte who has offices in Denver and New York also has a security company providing bodyguards for Hollywood stars and Arab royalty. Perhaps it will bring him a step closer to his long term project-a film based upon his best-seller The Spying Game in which Monte tells of his experiences searching the New Guinea jungle for lost American heir Micheal Rockefeller Jnr who vanished while traveling up the Sepik River , and guarding the Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis.

The day ended slightly badly for Teflon John when another Ibrahim brother was arrested for allegedly damaging a TV newsman's camera.

Just another sunny spring day in glorious Sydney.

very rich entertainers...

BRW ( Business Review Weekly) Has produced their rich entertainer's list. Topping the pile is band ACDC with a income last year of $105M, displacing last year's top lot, kiddie's band The Wiggles.

The Singing Budgie  Kylie Minogue clocked in at around $47M, Russell Crowe at around $25M, Silverchair at  $4.5M and Keith Urban at $20M whilst wife Nicolle Kidman earned $11M.

Ex-Neighbour's soapie star Jesse Spence garnered a whopping $3.5M following his success in the No 1 US TV show House while new entrants to the list included Geoffrey Rush at $1.5M , Hugo Weaving and Toni Collette.

Author Bryce Courtney still dominates as the wealthiest writer at around $1.5M.

Meanwhile everyone's favourite actor Paul Hogan is still battling with the tax department over his fortune after it was revealed today he had been hauled in by them for a grilling.

Cate's a US hit in 'Streetcar'

Baltimore Sun :

"Washington's blockbuster fall season continues as actress Cate Blanchett (left) takes on the role of Blanche DuBois this month at the Kennedy Center. The potent mix of A-list celeb and A-list play has the district aflutter. But the bad news is that it’s pretty much sold out. So good luck relying on the kindness of strangers to find a ticket."

Liv Ullmann Cate Blanchett & Joel Edgerton

The Washington Post :

" Blanchett is certainly the most heartbreaking Blanche I've ever experienced. This is the kind of evening you want to urge people to see, to remind them of theatre's illuminating range, its ability to force you out of your resistant natural scepticism, to assess, reflect and feel,"

ABS CBN NEWS:

"Australian star Cate Blanchett is winning standing ovations and rave reviews from US audiences for her heart-rending performance in the Tennessee Williams classic "A Streetcar Named Desire."

fascinators at ten paces...

To use that tired old phrase as every newspaper tries to get in first-'the race that stops a nation'-the Melbourne Cup is upon us today.

The recession is still biting as it's reported the famous marquees of the Birdcage at Flemington race course have about halved. Party hopping will be at a minimal as the favourite half-way watering hole, the Moet & Chandon tent has vanished. Instead the only lavish catering on hand appears to be the Emirates Marquee which has a Bollywood theme.

Celebritites are at a minimum although a few have clocked in-ex-Pamela Anderson hubby Tommy Lee is a "celebrity DJ", Liza Minelli making brief appearances, Ronan Keating and Dutch violinist Andre Rieu who seems to have adopted Australia as his second home and horse mad Royal Zara Phillips. No Cup would be complete without an assortment of soapie stars. weather forecasters and Lady Sonia McMahon but absent this year is Queer Eye's Carlson Kressley who has been at the last 3.

The Shuttle has reported the Cup for Hello magazine in the past and once brought out British miliner David Shilling for Myers. He proved to be a big hit.This year's guest is current favourite Phillip Somerville.

 Let the gambling begin..



Andre Rieu

A Keating stoush..

Former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating has weighed into the controversy swirling around the claim his daughter Katherine allegedly abused a News Ltd photography at a Halloween party to promote a vodka brand last week at the State Theatre at which British singer Paloma Faith was a guest.

The Sunday Telegraph claimed Ms Keating had threatened the snapper after she was ambushed at the event. Those who know Katherine Keating says it's not within her nature. We tend to agree.

The Shuttle had it's own photographer there and as usual, he never takes a snap without asking the subject first. It's a hard and fast rule we stick by and always have. Our cricket mad Canon wielder let Katherine "go through to the keeper" as he puts it, knowing she isn't too fond of the media.

Paul Keating has called for new privacy laws which the Federal government is already considering. Something along the lines like those in France which has the strictest media laws in Europe.

The Sunday Telegraph has form here. They published the ridiculous photographs of a supposedly nude Pauline Hanson just before the Queensland state election this year . The snaps turned out to be from a Russian web dating site. A mutually agreeable settlement was reached out of court when Hanson threatened to sue.

In England the Royal correspondent on one of their newspapers was jailed a few years ago after it was revealed the paper had commissioned a private eye to tap the mobile phone's of Princes Harry & William.

The Murdoch UK newspaper The Sun dubbed Keating the "Lizard of Oz" when he was snapped putting a protective arm around HRH The Queen when she was on an official tour. Another proclaimed "Hands Off Our Queen !" (apparently forgetting she is actually the Queen of Australia as well).

Paloma Faith (above)

It's a continuing battle that has seen the Murdoch press in attack mode before and after the election of Labor's Kevin Rudd in late 2007. Each attempt seems to backfire badly including the hopelessly botched fake email scam recently that involved a senior public servant and an alleged favour to a car\dealer on Rudd's behalf. Federal police are now investigating the email but News Ltd tabloids were badly burned by the experience.

They are taking the line that as the party Katherine Keating was at, was a product promotion it should be a free for all. Perhaps. But the high morale ground being taken by Murdoch newspaper bosses rings hollow and the usual "freedom of expression" etc excuses are trotted out as new younger journalists produce pieces that often reflect personal opinion.

Fact checking is becoming largely redundant as newspapers feel the bite of the "new media".News Ltd publications are as guilty of most in their relentless promotion of parties where their journalists get favours or gifts. The animosity felt amongst photographers who also attend but don't receive the same gifts is common knowledge.

Basically there are no rules or conventions despite the infamous "cash for comments" scandal a few years ago where all publications pompously quoted their regulations about protecting their worker's integrity where they must declare gifts received when publishing an article. It was all forgotten within months.

It looks like Keating has struck the first blow in a war that may see the tabloids regret their intrusive behaviour.

today's yoof..

It's a fast growing trend amongst young people marrying in the current financial climate. Guests are asked to give money instead of presents-preferably hard cold cash.

The Shuttle attended one such wedding 6 weeks ago and noticed one member from either side of the wedding parties sat at a desk taking contributions. It was announced during speeches that the money would pay for the honeymoon- a trip abroad.

Last week we saw the new groom out and about and inquired how the holiday had gone. "Oh we decided not to bother" he said "the wife got a boob job instead ".

Wonderful.

just for fun

Richard Neville and portrait

Martin Sharp & Neville Wran

One of the nation's true eccentrics, artist Martin Sharp has been given his first retrospective exhibition by the National Trust at the Sydney Museum. Sharp designed record album sleeves for 1960's greats like Cream and Jimi Hendrix and was the illustrator for the infamous Oz Magazine which landed many of it's originators including Sharp in jail twice-in Australia and England. In both the highly publicized cases the defendants were finally released upon appeal and in the course of the trials helped relax strict censorship laws in both countries.

The English trial defending barrister was a young Geoffrey Robertson QC-now a pillar of the British establishment whilst in Sydney another bright young barrister Neville Wran QC helped free the accused.

Wran, now in his 80s and a darling of the left went onto to become NSW premier for many years and launched Sharp's show with a speech about the trial , describing the jailing magistrate as a 'mongrel' to much applause.
No Sharp exhibition would be complete without works based on the showman Tiny Tim whom Sharp helped launch into stardom.

a mystery deepens..

As the founder of Warner Music Australia, Peter Ikin was loved and respected by artists like Elton John, Billy Joel and Rod Stewart.
But when the popular music and record company identity died suddenly a year ago in a Paris hotel, friends were not only distressed but mystified upon hearing he had wed a former boyfriend, Frenchman Alexandre Despallieres in a civil ceremony just weeks before.

A greater shock was to come-Ikin had left his multi-million dollar fortune to Despallieres but not before emailing friends and a relative, nephew Father Gary Perritt that he was becoming increasingly wary of his new partner. According to Perritt, Despalliere had told Ikin he was now a dot com millionaire and was dying slowly from a mystery illness and convinced Ikin they should make each other beneficiaries of their respective wills. As Ikin's executor, Despalliere had Peter's body cremated shortly after an autopsy had been conducted in Paris. The gossip amongst friends is that Ikin's death was preceded by a fall down some stairs. Despallieres returned immediately to London after the cremation and ensconced himself in Peter's luxury Chelsea house.

Now Despallieres is facing London's High Court this Monday accused of fraud by Rod Stewart's former manager Billy Gaff who claims he was duped in a business deal. Questions are still being asked over the sketchy details of Ikin's sudden death and Despallieres puzzling actions, as reported in today's SMH 'PS' column by Andrew Hornery. Despallieres purchased 3 Porsche cars immediately following the cremation. One for himself and one each for the 2 men who had witnessed Ikin's will.

stocking fillers

A week of book launches as everyone who is anyone gets their book out for Christmas. Peter Fitzsimmon's biography of flying pioneer Kingsford Smith looks like it will outsell the rest with TV host Ray Martin's autobiography a runner-up with a 100,000 print run.

'Super-agent' Harry M. Miller's "Confessions of a Not So Secret Agent' written with Rolling Stone & FMH managing editor Peter Holder should be a winner as well.

Written in a question and answer style it's a witty run down of Harry's 40 years as a show-biz promoter, manager and confidante of those whose careers fall upon difficult times like Lindy Chamberlain who was jailed and released over the sensational disappearance of her baby Azaria at Ayers Rock in the infamous Dingo Baby case ( Meryl Streep played her in Evil Angels) along with Stuart Diver who

Harry M. Miller above with Lindy Chamberlain

was trapped for days in the Thredbo snow avalanche disaster. Toss in a few affairs with his clients-Shirley Bassey and others and endless anecdotes about Harry's tours with everyone from Chubby Checker to the Rolling Stones. The 70's style club Kit'n'Caboodle in Kings Cross was the perfect location for a gathering of media heavyweights to toast Harry M.

(right) TV boss David Leckie, Deeta Colvin, Womans Weekly editor Deborah Thomas and radio king Alan Jones.

Christian the Lion's Ace Bourke & Vitek

Fashion heavyweights Peter Morrisey and Maggie Tabberer with media mogul Charles Curran

grumpy Royal

Seventh in line to the throne HRH Prince Edward paid a visit to Admiralty House in Kirribilli on Wednesday and left behind a bunch of slightly miffed kids.

Edward presented 2 dozen recipients with the gold award known as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

While happy to pose in photographs with a group of the young Australians following the ceremony, the prince wasn't too keen on the idea of giving autographs.

One lass who volunteers with Mission Australia, asked for his signature as a memory of the occasion but Prince Edward declined and said that a copy of his father's autograph, which is on the award, would have to do.

More accommodating is the 13th in line-his cousin Viscount Linley who was in Sydney a few years ago to attend the opening of an exhibition of his custom made cigar boxes at the Art Gallery of NSW. As Princess Magaret's son arrived early with his wife Lady Serena , the Shuttle had to negotiate entry for the pair as a guard tried to enforce the " no admittance before 6pm" rule. He relented after we pointed out the remarkable resemblance between his Lordship and the invitation's photograph. Linley rewarded the Shuttle with a personally conducted 20 minute pre-drinks tour of his work. Asked if he would sign the invite, he warmly agreed but not before requesting us to not to tell other guests. "We never give autographs" he confided as he scribbled his Royal signature.

Is a Royal autograph worth much ?. We wouldn't be so crass to sell but the latest offer was nearly $1500.

surely some mistake...

In May 2008 a controversey over some nude teen photographs by internationally aclaimed artist Bill Henson swept the nation as the Ros Oxley Gallery in Paddington was raided by police with the offending items carted off to assess whether they could be deemed to be illegal porn. Self appointed child advocate Hetty Johnson demanded that heads roll, shock jocks went into screech mode, State and Federal politicians weighed in and the owner of the gallery, Ros Oxley who resides in Sydney's, if not the countries most splendid harbourside home, the gothic pile Carthona, decamped with her family to Switzerland for a few months.

Oxley friend and Leader of the Opposition Malcolm Turnbull declared the photos to be art and confided that the walls of his Point Piper mansion hosted a few Henson items. But newly elected Prime Minister Kevin Rudd weighed into the frenzy describing the photos (without actually seeing them) as "absolutely revolting".

Fast forward to the present date and the soon to be announced Prime Minister's Literary Awards  which has a $100,000 prize up for grabs. And there amongst the contendors- Henson vocal defender David Marr with his latest book 'The Henson Case' in which the brilliant Sydney Morning Herald journalist and former Media Watch host dissects the whirlwind that surrounded the whole affair. Winning the prize would catapult the book into instant best seller status.

A prize giving ceremony not to be missed.

Chiggy Wiggy and even more gaiety..

Paddington's working class RSL club will host Indian royalty on November 4th in the form of his splendid highness Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil the Maharajkumar or Crown Prince of Rajpipla belonging to the royal family of the former princely state of Rajpipla in India which dates back at least 600 years.

Singh Gohil, who outed himself in 2006, will be a guest at a conference on HIV AIDs prevention for ACON and as a guest for the Burnet Institute and the Dept of Foreign Affairs. Brought up surrounded by luxury and servants he is the only known person of royal lineage in modern India to have publicly revealed he is gay.

Fleeing from a disastrous and unconsummated marriage and a nervous breakdown, the prince flung himself headlong out of the closet to assist gay causes. He's done the Oprah Winfrey show, inaugurated the Euro Pride gay festival in Stockholm, Sweden in 2008 and trawled the UK's gay haven Brighton for a British boyfriend for the BBC cameras. Glitter saris all round !

It's all for a good cause : tickets for the night are available at http://www.everydayhero.com.au/The_Prince

### The Singing Budgie's first Bollywood appearance in Blue has been deemed a disaster. British critics who usually go completely ga ga over our gal have called Kylie Minogue “as sexy as a fat housewife in a kaftan”. Kylie shouldn't worry-she picked up a million dollars for her short appearance singing the wonderfully named song Chiggy Wiggy !

more gaiety

Just as former PM John Howard gets the boot as the prospective head of Rugby League (with the help of Labor's Anthony Albanese) news comes of an autobiography that has footie players quaking in their boots about potential changing room revelations.

Rob Astbury, formerly the countries top sports broadcaster is soon to publish his autobiography called Twice as Hard.

Television personalities, top executives plus Australian Football Rules stars and officials are on tenterhooks in anticipation of Astbury’s book.

Astbury infuriated friends of the late Graham Kennedy by publishing explicit details of his relationship with the King of Television in a book called King & I. The late Don Lane tore it up for the TV cameras, Melbourne radio host Derryn Hinch went into meltdown, others cried foul but the tome sold like hotcakes. It wasn't like Astbury was revealing the entertainment world's worst kept secret-that Gra Gra was Gay - they just preferred not to know. Apart from about 50 thousand who bought the book that is.

The former multi award winning journalist, who won a Logie nomination for breaking the news of the Sydney Swans invasion, won the confidence of former owner the flamboyant Doctor Geoffrey Edelsten revealing exclusive stories about the doctor, his former wife Leanne and former star footballer Warrwick Capper. Edelsten is now squiring the buxom 25 year old Las Vegas fitness trainer Brynne Gordon and threatening to marry the blond starlet in a $250K wedding after negotiating picture sale rights to OK ! magazine. As one does.

Astbury’s autobiography will feature stories that were too hot to be published at the height of his career concerning Aussie Rules legends, some of whom have sons playing today including Brownlow Medallist Gary Ablett.

In talking about his experiences with TV stars including Eddie McGuire, Jana Went, Daryl Somers, Naomi Robson, Don Lane and others like Tracey Grimshaw who hit headlines in the UK when foul mouthed TV chef Gordon Ramsey recently went head to head with her on her chat show, he describes television as a despicable industry. Television executives have not been spared and lawyers are painstakingly scanning the manuscript to offset legal action. Astbury refused to answer probing questions from Social Shuttle until lawyers have completed their job.

To promote Twice as Hard and re-establish Astbury, videos of his career at Channel 10, 9 and 7 have been posted on You Tube .

Here is a young Rob (2nd left front)with a host of big-time media personalities.

To the far right,( in every sense of the word) is the current airwaves king Alan Jones in plaid jacket and kiss curls. Behind with the started look is the late Don Lane who died this week, with a youthful George Negus shaking his fist. Negus is currently whipping up a storm as a guest in Masterchef. At the top waving his fist in delight is John Blackman who recently re-apprised his role in the revived Hey Hey it's Saturday show that hit worldwide headlines for all the wrong reasons over a Michael Jackson tribute which probably scored the show another few episodes, if not a whole series. (instant update-a series has been announced)

Astbury now lives in the saucy seaside town of Pattaya, Thailand where he helped build a property empire and divides his time between a seaside penthouse and a cattle ranch in the north.

Next week promoter Harry M.Miller launches his autobiography and Shuttlers may recall he was once sued by his former client Graham Kennedy over a secret commission he received when he lured the legend back to TV. Miller also threatened to sue Astbury if he published his tale about life with the legend. Just to show there were no hard feelings, Rob published anyway.

No-it's not another transvestite footballer but a former cast member of the late 'Mr Sin' Abe Saffron's famous Les Girls cabaret in Kings Cross, Karen Chant. Described as a 'living gay legend' and a close friend of Astbury's (with her in the snap). Karen makes an appearance in the book as well. Doing what, we aren't quite sure but it sounds like fun.
We can't wait !

Vale the Don

He only came to Australia to host a brief series of a 'tonight' style shows in the 1960s and stayed until he passed away today at 75 from a dementia related illness.

Don Lane was born in the Bronx as Morton Donald Isaacson in 1933 and was a moderately successful lounge singer in Las Vegas before an offer came out of the blue to host 6 variety TV shows in Sydney which the producer thought Don could fit in between some Hawaii nightclub appearances. He was to be a replacement for host-Irish comedian Dave Allen who had been sacked for appearing drunk on his first show.

He had been recommended as a suitable candidate by singer Wayne Newton who was in the country at the time. The Lanky Yank never left and became one of the most loved and popular show biz personalities.

In the 90's he became the voice of American NFL broadcasts for local TV with his American accent and passion and understanding of the sport. From the 60's to the late 90's Lane never stopped working in entertainment,becoming a successful talk-show host until sadly he was diagnosed with altheimers in 2008. The end came quickly today.

Memorable moments in Lane's career included being invited to join Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr on a tour and his run-in with skeptic James Randi. Spoon bender Uri Geller and British psychic medium Doris Stokes were regulars on his shows discussing the paranormal.

When Randi began to make derogatory remarks about Doris Stokes who Lane adored, he said to the skeptic :"we're going to a commercial break now and you can piss off". As a stunned Randi stared-Lane swept props off a table and to audience applause, stormed off his own set.
He was corny, he was too American, he couldn't sing that well but Don was loved by all.

RIP Don Lane.

coming to the screen..

The extraordinary life of the late stockbroker Rene Rivkin is to be examined in the film Model Daughter: The Caroline Byrne Story, nearing completion and due for broadcasting this year.

The telemovie concentrates on the arrest and trial of Rivkin's chauffeur and confidante, Gordon Wood who was convicted of throwing his model girlfriend Caroline Byrne over The Gap, the infamous suicide spot near the heads of Sydney Harbour in 1995.

It took investigating police over 10 years to finally charge Wood who was jailed for 17 years last December. He was arrested in Switzerland after fleeing from London where he had built up a chain of successful exercise gyms. Wood has lodged an appeal and proclaims his innocence.

Rivkin's life was highly controversial at the best of times. Born in Shanghai China, his Georgian family migrated to Sydney where Rivkin built up a $50M fortune as a financial advisor to film stars like Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe and was the youngest ever member of the stock exchange.

His life began to fall apart in 2003 when he was convicted for insider trading after making a paltry $2300 profit on some Qantas shares. Friends scoffed at the time that Rivkin could easily spend that much over lunch. Many spoke of how the "establishment" was out to get Rivkin over his presumed flashy lifestyle. A gold Bentley convertible with matching worry beads, huge cigars and tendency to love appearing in gossip columns. In 2000 Rivkin hosted the media aboard his huge new cruiser with it's helicopter pad that was to be loaned to visiting stars for harbour cruises. In 1999, he played himself in the last of the US hit TV series Baywatch when 4 episodes were filmed on the northern beaches.

Gordon Wood & Carolyn Byrne

Rivkin received a 9 month periodic weekend detention sentence. His first appearance at Silverwater Correctional Centre was accompanied by a fleet of media crews as Rikvin arrived in a limousine. Despite saying after the first 2 days that he was enjoying teaching fellow inmates stock investing skills, Rivkin collapsed as he was about to leave on Monday morning. Outrage followed when it was revealed a Murdoch newspaper had supplied a mobile phone to a fellow inmate to snap Rivkin in jail with the photo splashed across front pages.

Doctors diagnosed a brain tumour and Rivkin's lawyers negotiated a deal with authorities where Rivkin would spend his entire sentence in one stretch at the Long Bay Jail psychiatric ward after an operation to remove the growth.

But Rivkin's life was about to unravel further as he heard he was being investigated over secret Swiss bank accounts. Living in his mother's Point Piper apartment, the day Rivkin's wife Gayle announced she was to divorce him, Rene killed himself with an overdose of pills in 2007. He was bankrupt-his fortune had seemingly vanished.

Finance journalist Andrew Main's bestseller Rivkin, Unauthorised: The Rise and Spectacular Fall of an Unorthodox, revealed that Rivkin had skirted on the edge of legality from the very early days of the heady 1980's when insider trading was the norm. It was inevitable that a crash was to come. Some speculated that Rene had a built-in self destructive streak, haunted by the suicide of his loved older brother.

In 1987 as Rivkin flew out from Sydney to New York to seal a deal with artist Andy Warhol to launch Rivkin's new art investment company, a message was delivered to him in first class that Warhol had died suddenly. Rivkin collapsed and had to be medicated to return home.

The film is based on Sydney Morning Herald journalist Robert Wainwright's book The Killing Of Caroline Byrne: A Journey To Justice and stars David Lyons as Wood, Tiriel Mora as Rivkin and Cariba Heine as Caroline Byrne.

W*nking For Art's Sake

While John Safran's new ABC, TV series Race Relations is garnering heaps of controversy over some of the scenes-Safran sniffing the underwear of celebrities and one where he masturbates for the camera (yet to be screened), criticism comes from a former foe whose autobiography the Shuttle has had a sneak preview of.

Current affairs host Ray Martin gives Safran a 3 page serve in his up coming book Stories From My Life to be released in early November. Safran and Martin famously clashed a few years ago when Safran was discovered going through Martin's garbage bins looking for evidence of something, anything, similar to investigator's for Martin's then tabloid show A Current Affair.

Martin describes Safran in most unflattering terms including "with his high pitched voice" which could be explained by the fact Martin attempted to throttle Safran at the time after he caught him-all filmed for John's then show John Safran-Media Tycoon.

Safran was 'discovered' as one of the most amusing contestants in Race Around the World where competitors travelled world-wide competing for who could film the most outrageous footage.

Safran's memorable moments including streaking naked through Jerusalem-much to the annoyance of angry locals despite Safran's pleas"I am Jewish!"- being baptised in Africa, having a Voodoo curse put on his former girlfriend, sneaking into Disneyland and attaching small memorial plaques to the rides proclaiming Walt Disney's alleged support for Hitler ( some remained in place for a month ) and the stunt that got him disqualified from the show-filming as he took confession with a priest ( hidden camera footage wasn't allowed in the show.

Early this year Safran had himself flogged and crucified in the Philippines during Easter. A pilot for a new show which never made it to air was titled John Safran: Master Chef where he first cooked a delicious beef steak and then visited an abattoir and filmed the whole process from start to finish of a cow being slaughtered and diced. Not for the squeamish.

Safran's first successful series was in 2003,John Safran Vs God,where he had himself exorcised in front of the cameras by a Catholic priest.

Ray Martin's book is to be launched at the Leichhardt Town Hall on November 4th.

The Safran Crucifixion

The Classy Emerald City..

party pals-John Ibrahim, Paris Hilton & David Freeman

emerald

The last time the Shuttle attended the Embassy Club in Double Bay was in it's previous incarnation 10 years ago. That night 6 men arrived with pistols after an earlier fracas when one had been ejected from the club and declared "try throwing us out now !"

It was also the night then owner, the late stockbroker Rene Rivkin decided the nightclub game wasn't really for him.

On Saturday night the club re-opened in Double Bay under the auspices of David and Adam Freeman whose father George Freeman was once considered a kingpin in Sydney's seedy underworld. He was featured in the series Underbelly where actor Peter O'Brien, husband of actress Miranda Otto portrayed him brilliantly, according to Freeman's boys.

David and Adam have a partner -John Ibrahim who now has an interest in 20 night spots around the city. Ibrahim's brother Fadi is still recovering from an assassination attempt when 5 bullets were pumped into him as he sat beside his girlfriend in a Lamborghini outside their Castle Cove house in June.

John Ibrahim who will be featured in the next Underbelly 3 series is planning a tell-all book about his rise from driver and bodyguard to the now jailed drug king pin Bill Bayeh, to nightclub czar and owner of a security firm that supplies bouncers for most of Sydney.He also hangs out in Las Vegas with Paris Hilton and motorcycle champion Mike Doohan who is now Vegas based, operating a successful entertainment centre there. Ibrahim says he will give half of the 6 figure advance to the children's ward at the Royal North Shore hospital that saved his brother's life after the shooting.

Ibrahim associates have started referring to him as 'Teflon John'. Police claim they have a burgeoning filing cabinet full of information on the promoter but nothing has stuck yet. Murder charges were dismissed in court when Ibrahim claimed that rather than being responsible for the death of a drug dealer, he was attempting to save the man with the "kiss of life" after the man took a drug overdose.

Meanwhile Freeman brothers David and Adam are plowing through a lengthy court process in the Caribbean after their luxury yacht I'l Dapprima, was impounded off the Netherlands Antilles in February with $250,000 in a hidden compartment on board. Money laundering charges were dropped but the brothers were forced to fly home sans yacht.

The Ibrahim clan-with John at the helm has it share of woes as well. 2 of his brothers have been refused bail and are accused of a murder plot, his sister is accused of allegedly concealing over $3M in the ceiling of her home, another brother has been accused of kidnap and his 6'6" Tongan bodyguard has been arrested on drugs and weapons offenses.

And as usual, Rupert Murdoch's News Ltd tabloids have hired disgraced ex-cop Roger Rogerson to be their 'consultant' as the Underbelly series is screened on television.

Ahhh Sydney-so stylish at times.