Latest news with #EasternSuburbs
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Heartbroken mum becomes a recluse after daughter's death
Julie Singleton's heartbreaking statement to a coronial inquest has confirmed claims the mother-of-four has become a virtual recluse in her home, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, since her daughter died in a random attack at Bondi Junction 13 months ago. Friends of the lawyer say she has been held up in her home for over a year, rarely taking phone calls and, apart from regular appearances at the Westfield inquest, barely leaves the house. Sources say the grieving mother has, since her 25-year-old's daughter's tragic death, stopped leaving the house to shop for food and provisions and now has groceries and supplies delivered to her home to help avoid public scrutiny or contact. A second statement tendered to the inquest this week also contradicted media reports the soon-to-be married Dawn had been at Westfield Bondi Junction to shop for make-up for her upcoming wedding. Friends of the deceased have previously informed this column Dawn was set to have her makeup done by a professional on her wedding day, and had no need of wedding-day cosmetics. Having received a stern rebuke from Dawn's younger sister Daisy for granting an interview to 60 Minutes, Dawn's father John Singleton has taken a lower profile since the inquest began on April 28. INTERIM AVO DISMISSED A Sydney court has dismissed an interim AVO taken out on behalf of John Singleton's daughter Sally Singleton-Hawach. The matter was set to return to Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday. According to court records, the application was dismissed in the same court a week earlier. Ms Singleton-Hawach and her estranged husband Pierre Hawach fronted Parramatta Court on March 25 following an alleged domestic incident. It was the second time Ms Singleton-Hawach, executive producer of LAMP Music, singer and art therapist, and Hawach, a Parramatta divorce lawyer, have been before the courts. A similar order was applied for 2021 but withdrawn six months later after the couple, who had briefly separated, reconciled. The couple, who have three young children under eight, have now separated a second time after a decade of marriage The one-time society debutant is the second daughter of legendary adman Singleton and his third wife Belinda Green. She is also the half-sister of Dawn Singleton, the one-time media owner's daughter by his sixth wife, Julie. Dawn was one of six people fatally stabbed by Joel Cauchi at Westfield Bondi Junction last year. ABC GOES AFTER TOP FOODIES MasterChef Australia's three original judges – Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris – are in talks to reunite for a mystery television project. Six years after Preston, Mehigan and Calombaris last collaborated, executives at the ABC are hoping the three can be brought together to recreate the MasterChef magic in a new culinary program on the public broadcaster. Industry sources last week said the trio hoped the yet-to-be-greenlit program would relaunch their prime time television careers. Flamboyant food critic Preston and restaurateur/chefs Calombaris and Mehigan enjoyed 11 seasons as presenters and judges on MasterChef before the three made a pact in 2019 to jointly walk away from the Ten Network reality series if they couldn't extract a better deal. Industry claims, reported by your scribe at the time, had it the men had each demanded a million dollar contract from Ten. This was 18 months after the financially embattled network had been acquired by American media company CBS (later rebranded Paramount) after entering into voluntary administration in 2017. Despite the program's consistently high ratings, Ten refused the trio's demands and the presenters left the program. The following year Preston and Mehigan were signed to Seven's short-lived cooking show, Plate of Origin, alongside chef Manu Feildel. The program lasted just four weeks and was cancelled due to poor ratings however both would be invited to appear on the 2022 season of Seven's My Kitchen Rules. The two have remained regular collaborators and this year have joined forces to conduct food adventure tours in Hong Kong and Taiwan as well as a tour of India. Meanwhile prior to and after his departure from MasterChef Calombaris was sunk in financial scandal after it emerged he had underpaid restaurant staff $7.83 million. Following the closure of his 21 restaurants his company went into voluntary administration. He eventually made his return to television in 2022 on Ten with a six-part docu-series entitled Hungry after working diligently to rehabilitate his career and reputation. All three men are said to be keen to re-establish the chemistry that made them household names from 2009 and to relaunch their on-screen partnership, even with the expected downsized ABC pay cuts. SEVEN'S POWER MOVE Departed Nine Network journalist Chris O'Keefe has received an approach from the Seven Network to return to television. Former Seven Perth news director Ray Kuka was only days into his new job as replacement for recently departed national news boss Anthony De Ceglie when Kuka started canvasing for an experienced hand to take the reins of his Sydney newsroom. The approach follows this column's revelation Seven's Sydney news director Sean Power, promoted under De Ceglie to move across from executive producer of Sunrise to run Seven's Sydney newsroom, is headed home to Melbourne. On Friday morning, the Seven Network released a statement confirming Power's move to Melbourne, while announcing him as the Network's new 'Director of News Integration and Strategy'. Current 7NEWS Sydney Executive Producer Geoff Dunn will step into the News Director, while revealing Gemma Acton - who was promoted to Director of News Operations - has quit the Network and will relocate with her family to Dubai 'for a new career opportunity'. O'Keefe, who was a reporter for Nine for over a decade before trying his hand at talk radio on Nine-owned Sydney station 2GB, quit the media, and Nine, at the end of last year. After announcing he was to start his own political advocacy business he surprised former colleagues by joining the Clean Energy Council as its national spokesman. According to our Seven sources, O'Keefe didn't hesitate in declining Kuka's offer leaving the Perth news veteran, another chairman's pick by Kerry Stokes or so we hear, to go hunting for a new contender. PAY PARITY TAKES BACKWARD STEP AT NINE The last word for the week must surely go to a report in The Australian earlier this week that Sarah Abo is earning $800k-a-year as co-anchor of Nine's Today show. The figure is roughly a quarter (or 28.5 per cent based on the lowest end of his estimate) of the salary currently being paid to her co-host Karl Stefanovic whose salary has been put at between $2.8 million and $3 million. Now this injustice should stick in the craw of Nine's news boss Fiona Dear, the first woman ever installed to run Nine's TV news division. If Dear (and Nine CEO Matt Stanton) has crunched the numbers, as indeed we have, the gender pay gap between the two Today co-hosts has grown since former anchor Lisa Wilkinson lost her job at Nine in 2017 for fighting hard – some have claimed too hard which we reckon is nonsense – to achieve pay parity with Stefanovic. While comedian and radio host Dave Hughes will always be a hero in our eyes for taking a pay cut in 2017 to ensure his co-host Kate Langbroek, who was on 40 per cent less, was given an equitable salary bump and even Kyle Sandilands insisted early in his radio partnership with Jackie 'O' that his 2DAYFM increase her salary from $80k to an equitable arrangement, it seems sexism is still king in television or at least in Nine's light news division.
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Billionaire heiress Francesca Packer cuts a casual figure as she strolls hand-in-hand with rarely seen boyfriend Robert Bates in Sydney
Billionaire heiress Francesca Packer has been spotted on a rare outing with her boyfriend Robert Bates. Francesca, who is the granddaughter of the late Kerry Packer and daughter of Gretel Packer and English financier Nick Barham, lives a notoriously private life, however she broke cover on Saturday as she and her partner of two and a half years stepped out in Sydney. The couple cut casual figures as they enjoyed a stroll hand-in-hand around Potts Point in the Eastern Suburbs. The 30-year-old heiress ditched her usual dressy attire for a white RVCA x Benjamin Jean Jean hoodie, which she paired with black leggings as she took to the streets. She finished off the laidback fit with a pair of black slides, as well as large sunglasses in an attempt to go incognito. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Francesca, who is usually adorned with enough jewels and bling to make eyes water, presented a pared back look with not so much as a necklace in sight, but did add a pop of colour to her ensemble with maroon red nails. Her boyfriend, who formerly made the Australian Financial Review's Young Rich List with an estimated net worth of $145 million, wore a knitted crew neck jumper in an olive green hue. He layered the sweater over an easy white tee and linen, drawstring pants, matching his jumper with a pair of green suede sneakers by Dolce and Gabbana. The business owner wore his locks in his signature windswept do as he walked alongside his billionaire girlfriend while seemingly glued to his phone. Francesca and Robert began dating in 2022 and confirmed their romance in December of that year after they were spotted kissing on the deck of a luxury yacht in Sydney Harbour. The pair are said to have been introduced by PR maven and Sydney socialite Roxy Jacenko, who was Francesca' publicist for a stint. She reportedly 'fell head over heels' for the divorced father and even 'confided to friends her desire to start a family' with him.' Robert is the CEO of failed wellness brands Aurum+ and Aquamamma and the founder of 7 Trinity Biotech. In December, no expense was spared for Francesca's birthday party as she rang in her 30th year. The billionaire heiress hosted a dress up shindig at upmarket eatery Mimi's in Coogee with an A-list guest list. Among the celebrities joining the event was influencer Indy Clinton, who came dressed as Pamela Anderson in her Baywatch days, donning a blonde wig and red swimsuit. Former host of The Project Lisa Wilkinson was also among the glitterati but skipped the fancy dress memo and opted for a chic, loose black suit. Norwegian singer Adelén was in tow, opting to dress up as Julia Roberts in the classic romantic comedy Pretty Woman. Francesca, who was dressed in a Wednesday Adams costume, held court with her boyfriend Robert. Also coming along to celebrate the occasion was her grandmother, Roslyn, and her mother, Gretel. Bella Wolfgang Clinton likewise in attended, sharing glimpses inside the party which had oysters and pasta on offer. Social media posts shared by attendees showed the party people enjoying caviar and champagne and partying until the wee hours. The socialites and celebrities mingled through the evening, taking fun bathroom selfies and dancing wildly as the night wore on.
News.com.au
24-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Australian exorcist spills all about the reality of ghost hunting
Ever stepped inside a home and knew something was off? Good, then you know the feeling. Maybe a cold chill crawls down your spine. Or a dark sense of anxiety envelops you. That tap that won't stop dripping. You can call a tradie. Or the boys in blue. But when there's something strange in the neighbourhood, many Aussies (including the super-rich) are calling someone else. Catarina Ligato is that someone. The Sydney home exorcist can be of service if you need evil energy driven from your digs. By cleansing these spirits, her clients claim they feel more at home. Ligato, who has 20 years of experience providing the paranormal service (also known as home clearing or home healing), claims she's sent spirits packing from over 5,000 homes. And demand keeps growing. While human exorcisms are embedded in popular culture, expelling evil from homes is a lesser known side of demonic possession. But with spirituality becoming more accepted in the household, home exorcisms are starting to have their moment. While many Aussies battle to keep a roof overhead, the idea of home exorcisms may sound silly to some. But behind closed doors, it's becoming big business. In perhaps its highest profile example, Australian financier Michael D. Daffey hired a home exorcism when he snapped up paedophile sex predator Jeffrey Epstein's $51 million New York house of horror. Talk about having your work cut out for you. Ligato's clients include Sydney billionaires in the elite enclaves of Sydney's eastern suburbs, who are focusing less on negative gearing and more on negative energy. And it's not just homeowners – even leading real estate agents are using her services to save their sales. Speaking to Ligato said even sceptics can be sensitive to the energy in a property. 'We're drawn not to how a home looks, but how it feels,' she said. 'I've had billionaire clients who called me after moving into 20 million dollar homes. And they tell me: 'it's haunted'. 'The rooms may feel very cold and eerie. Or pictures on the wall keep falling. Even wardrobes flying open. But always, there's the feeling.' Ligato said larger homes often have more parties, debauchery or just people passing through who can leave lingering energy. 'It doesn't matter how much you spend on furniture or makeovers. When the energy is bad, you're not sleeping.' 'That's when you know the place needs to be wiped clean.' Scars of the past Ligato said this negative energy often comes from past tragedy. Death, suicide, domestic violence or drug abuse that happened inside a property can leave bad energy. Ligato, who also runs the popular podcast and YouTube channel The Australian Ghost Whisperer, says leading Australian real estate agencies hire her for help. 'Sometimes there's a death or suicide in the house, and they can't sell.' 'I'm even being called to clear their offices.' Ligato says this may be due to ghosts who aren't ready to crossover to the spirit realm, don't understand they're dead, or fear being condemned to hell. 'They're scared,' Ligato says. 'They don't know where to go and get stuck. They might end up in their old home or someone else's. Wherever feels safe.' Ligato limits herself to 2 bookings a week, a boundary she needs to stay spiritually grounded. She says these are the signs to watch out for hauntings in the home. Signs your home is haunted 1. You feel unnaturally cold. 2. You hear voices or footsteps when no one is home. 3. You keep finding belongings moved around. 4. You feel more tense than usual. 5. You're always exhausted. How to get rid of ghosts? When it comes to sending polter-guests packing, it's best to leave it to the professionals. So how does it work? If you're thinking Ligato will haul a hot cauldron into your home and chant gibberish into it, think again. Though she does wield a wand. She gets started by assessing the property, finding any demonic entities and using the healing-crystal wand and 'sacred spray' to drive them away. In fact, home healing is nothing new. Cultures around the world have long-held traditions for removing negative energy in the home. For example, the Balinese keep windows and doors open to invite positive energy. Today, spiritual services are used in some of Australia's highest professions. Another Aussie psychic Lizzy Rose claims to have once healed a former Prime Minister of negative energy. Ligato says it's taken 20 years of speaking to her spirit guides to learn how to do what she does. 'Doing this work is a calling, it's not for everyone.' 'I know other psychics who ended up in psych wards for losing their balance.' While Ligato has also done thousands of exorcisms on people, she said working with homes is more fulfilling. 'I find it can feel a bit more positive, because you're helping both the inhabitants and the spirits to find peace.' What she does often involves talking to the spirit about their death to bring them to a place of peace. 'I'm able to kind of cleanse the footprints of the previous people that lived in the home.' 'So it's like the house then just feels really nice and peaceful.' She said sometimes it's her biggest sceptics that become the biggest clients. 'People feel it instantly, even if they don't see it. It just feels peaceful and calm. Her home healing service starts at around $300, with costs increasing depending on the size of the home and extent of the haunting. For those who prefer to do it themselves, Ligato says you can follow simple steps. How to keep the spirits out your home 1. Burn essential oils. 2. Play calm music. 3. Open your windows. 4. Declutter regularly 'Dark energy' One of Ligato's clients, who asked not to be named due to her profession in the legal sector, says life took a dark turn for her family soon as they moved into their Sydney home. 'It seemed to be one bad thing after another. There was a lot of dark energy.' When Ligato came, she determined there had been a death in the house. She got to work helping the spirit cross over. 'The home felt so much lighter.' Another Victorian woman say her family felt a dark cloud roll over their rural home one day. When she came by, Ligato confirmed there was work to be done. 'After a few hours the energy of our home started to lift. I was overwhelmed.' 'She bought peace and happiness back in our lives.' Another Sydney homeowner says Ligato helped get her family back on track after a move changed everything. 'The house felt chaotic in energy, which was affecting my family.' 'Afterwards we noticed a huge improvement in sleep and moods.' 'I can't talk more highly of her work.'
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE He's the mysterious young protégé of Alan Jones who vanished in a cloud of innuendo. Now in London with an heiress girlfriend, he answers the question everyone in high society has been asking...
Just a few short years ago, Jake Thrupp was a rising star in Sydney 's eastern elite. As the enigmatic protégé of veteran broadcaster Alan Jones, the young producer was an endless source of gossip for society scribes, whose innuendo-laden dispatches always noted how he was 'by Jones' side constantly'.
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Simone Holtznagel sparks romance rumours with Dina Broadhurst's ex Max Shepherd - as pair go public at Sydney charity gala
Simone Holtznagel appears to have found love again. The 31-year-old model mum has sparked romance rumours with Dina Broadhurst's Eastern Suburbs property developer ex-boyfriend Max Shepherd. According to The Sunday Telegraph, Simone was seen cosying up to Max at Justin Hemmes' Silver Party charity gala, fuelling speculation that the pair are quietly dating. While the relationship is still in its early stages and yet to be made official, sources tell the publication that the two are already 'smitten' and have been spending lots of time together. Simone is no stranger to headlines – especially since her high-profile breakup with celebrity trainer Jono Castano, with whom she shares a daughter. The pair ended things last year after a tumultuous on-off relationship. Meanwhile, Max Shepherd, 32, has carved out a name for himself in the property world and was previously linked to Broadhurst, a famed Sydney-based artist known for her nude self-portraits and edgy art installations. He also dated US actress Vail Bloom. Interestingly, Simone doesn't appear to be Max's usual type – with the developer historically gravitating towards older, brunette women, a far cry from Simone's signature blonde bombshell aesthetic. The timing of the romance comes as Max and his ex Dina are in the process of offloading their multimillion-dollar Rose Bay apartment, which they purchased together in 2022 for $5.2 million. The luxury two-bedroom, two-bathroom property was initially listed in November with an eye-watering price tag of $11.5 million after undergoing a dramatic high-end renovation. But six months on, the price has been slashed to $8.4 million, according to property records. Simone's younger sister Madeline Holtznagel is currently dating hospitality tycoon and Merivale CEO Justin Hemmes, 51, and they're expecting their first child this month. Simone previously dated celebrity personal trainer Jono, 34, before the pair ended things late last year. Jono has since moved on with Love Triangle star Emily Ryder, with the two debuting their relationship on social media. Earlier this month Jono was spotted enjoying a romantic night out with Emily at the Sydney Opera House. In a moody black-and-white clip filmed during their outing, the couple looked completely smitten as they paused on a grand staircase under dramatic lighting. In the footage, the fitness guru was seen planting a kiss on his girlfriend's lips as they posed for a cute photo together. The pair have reportedly been dating for several months and are taking things 'very slowly'. Sources close to the couple say Jono and Emily bonded over their shared passion for fitness and adventure, and are often seen working out together.
