Latest news with #Elsternwick
News.com.au
21 hours ago
- News.com.au
Convicted sex offender and former Melbourne headmistress accused of sexual assault in prison
The former headmistress of a Melbourne school who raped her students has allegedly sexually assaulted a much younger woman inside Melbourne's maximum security women's prison. Malka Leifer, 58, previously ruled over the ultra-orthodox Addas Israel School in the Melbourne suburb of Elsternwick before she was jailed for 15 years for repeated sexual abuse against students in her care. The convicted predator sexually abused sisters Nicole Meyer, Elly Sapper and Dassi Erlich on campus, in a school office, in her home and on school camps. The dual Israeli-Australian citizen fled to Israel and remained there from 2008 until 2021 before she was extradited to Melbourne to face justice. earlier this year exclusively revealed that Leifer had kissed the troubled conwoman Samantha Azzopardi while locked up together inside the protection unit at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre. Azzopardi is best known for dressing up and posing as a vulnerable 'schoolgirl' to get money from her victims. can now reveal that Leifer has been sent to solitary confinement at the facility in Melbourne's north over an alleged incident involving a younger inmate — one that sources say happened in full view of 'CCTV cameras'. The incident allegedly occurred in late July inside the Murray Unit where inmates are segregated for their own protection. A source with knowledge of the incident told the alleged victim was 'a young woman who was only recently moved to (protection) from the compound'. 'There was camera footage of it in the hallway of the Murray Unit,' the source said. The alleged victim is believed to be a 'young Koori girl' — an Aboriginal inmate in her 20s. Leifer, who is a mother of eight children and is 'disliked' in prison because she is 'arrogant and entitled', is now confined to a tiny cell for 23 hours a day where she cannot mix with other inmates. Her only taste of freedom each day will include a 20-minute visit to the airing yard or a trip to the loungeroom where the TV does not work. The added perks she has been accustomed to in prison, including a mircrowave and cooking equipment in her room, did not travel with her to an area of the prison referred to colloquially as 'the slot'. The Department of Justice and Victoria Police were approached for comment. A Department of Justice spokesperson said they cannot comment on individual prisoners but 'all allegations of sexual assault or violence in Victorian prisons are referred to Victoria Police for investigation'. Leifer's new life inside solitary confinement will be much different to her previous living conditions. last month reported that the solitary confinement unit is subject to almost daily lockdowns, some of which mean inmates there spend 24 hours a day inside their cells. A former inmate who spoke to about conditions in solitary confinement at the Melbourne prison said there are 'code black' events 'nearly every day' — a code black being a self-harm incident or an attempted suicide. 'The amount of times that medical would be called for a code black is unbelievable,' they said. A different former inmate, who spent time with Leifer inside the protection unit before being released in March, told Leifer was 'a loner' who 'used to sit in her room a lot'. Then Azzopardi, 36, came along, and that changed. When Azzopardi entered prison, the inmate says, the pair began spending a lot of time together. '(Azzopardi) acts young. That's the type of girl Malka likes,' they said. 'How f***ing wild is this. Her best friend in there is the one and only Malka Leifer. (Azzopardi) allowed Malka to kiss her on one occasion on the lips. Very strange stuff.' Leifer's victims said the details of Leifer's alleged relationship with Azzopardi was deeply concerning. 'I just hope the community or members of her family have a deep hard think about reading these stories and maybe, just maybe, start to believe that Malka Leifer did actually abuse us,' Nicole told Elly said it proved Leifer would never change. 'I guess part of me always wanted to believe there was some remorse, some understanding of her wrongdoing. Obviously that belief has diminished now, but mostly, I feel defeated and helpless at the knowledge there will be many other young vulnerable girls in the future that she will groom and take advantage of.' Leifer's barrister, Ian Hill KC, told a Melbourne court in 2023, prior to her sentencing, that she was 'truly lonely' and 'broken' in prison. 'Leifer was a respected educator, administrator and community member and indeed community leader,' Mr Hill said. 'Today, all these years later, she is a truly lonely, isolated and broken woman held in protective custody in a maximum security prison far from her culture, far from her religion and, significantly, far from her family. 'Publicly she has been disgraced and it can be said fairly that she is suffering worldwide as a result of the publicity that her trial seems to have attracted.' Leifer's victims were made aware of the new allegations against her over the weekend. In a message to one of her victims wrote: 'She has a pattern, it doesn't stop just because she is in prison.' A documentary titled Surviving Malka Leifer will premiere this week at the Melbourne International Film Festival. Directed by Adam Kamien, the film will delve into her victims' youth and their brave campaign to hold Leifer accountable. Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and former Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu will make appearances in the film.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Bachelor stars Sam and Snezana Wood sell luxe Elsternwick home
Former Bachelor Sam Wood and his wife Snezana have sold their Elsternwick love nest, with a major renovation by the pair likely to have helped secure them a big price. The pair met in season three of the reality show's Australian franchise in 2015, with the fitness-industry heavy hitter marrying the then single-mum Snezana in 2018. They now have three children together, as well as Ms Wood's first daughter, Eve, who appeared in the show. Mr Wood's fitness empire 28 by Sam Wood was sold for $71m in 2022, and he remains a popular fitness trainer with 263,000 followers on Instagram. The former Bachelor has recently proven he's just as fit as ever, completing his first marathon in Africa earlier this year as part of Carrie Bickmore's Carrie's Beanies 4 Brain Cancer charity event that raised more than $1.1m for research into the disease. Ms Wood has also been busy since the show wrapped, writing her memoir, launching sleepwear and jewellery collections with Homebodii and Shannakian Fine Jewellery, as well as carving out a niche as a lifestyle influencer with a whopping 331,000 followers on Instagram. Their five-bedroom house, complete with an impressive home gym that even showcases its own sauna, is understood to have sold for close to its $6.6m asking price. The home's period facade looks much as it always has and there are still an array of character details including decorative ceilings, stained-glass windows and hallway arches. But an exhaustive renovation means the next owners will enjoy impressive styling in key living areas including designer lighting fixtures, chevron-style engineered floors, warehouse conversion-style metal-framed windows. A black and white kitchen aesthetic forms the backdrop to daily life, with a butler's pantry concealed behind it, while bathrooms include features ranging from bevell-edged marble surfaces to marble-look tiles and freestanding tubs. Bedrooms are spread across the ground and first floors, with balconies for some of the upper level spaces. Outside a gas and solar-heated pool with a deck for sun lounges is surrounded by manicured gardens, while a paved area provides space for outdoor entertainment. Brighton-based Dow Real Estate managing director Taylor Dow handled the sale, but could not discuss the result. However, Mr Dow said there were good indications for the market in the area — particularly for homes renovated to a high standard at present. 'And for spring, I'm getting optimistic,' he said. 'The positivity in the headlines, the possibility of a rate cut and an increasing clearance rate are leading to more people being happy to transition to another property.' The sale follows rumours last year that the pair had been eyeing homes in Brighton.
Daily Mail
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Snezana Wood steps out wearing unusual bandage as she runs errands with daughter Eve in Melbourne
Snezana Wood was doing a supermarket run with her daughter Eve Markoski-Wood on Monday. The former Bachelor star was sporting an unusual accessory in the form of a square bandage on her neck. The 44-year-old appeared a tad tired as she popped into the local shops in Elsternwick with her teen in tow. Snezana was casually chic in a white shirt underneath a dark wool trench coat, and had on a pair of blue jeans. She opted for a natural makeup look with some winged eyeliner and a soft pink lipstick. It's unclear why the former reality star, who recently dyed her hair to an auburn tone, was wearing the bandage on her neck. Eve, 19, matched her mum, wearing a black and blue ensemble consisting of a loose jumper and jeans. The pair left a Coles supermarket, each carrying a brown paper bag containing their purchases. The sighting comes after Eve opened up about her biological father in a rare and deeply personal public moment that has since gone viral. The teenager broke down in tears during an interview with Dose of Society, which was shared to the popular Instagram page's 1.7 million followers earlier this month. In the raw and unfiltered video, Eve was asked: 'What is the most painful thing anyone has ever said to you?' Her candid response left viewers stunned: 'Probably that I don't deserve the life I'm living.' Wiping away tears, the Melbourne-based teen explained it was her biological dad, Jason Rapoff, who made the comment. 'I don't know why he said that to me. I grew up just with my mum,' she continued. 'She raised me to be the woman I am today. He wanted to see my mum suffer. And I think when he saw that my mum had built a life for both of us, it was just more of a reaction.' Eve revealed she hasn't seen her biological father in eight years and that he was largely absent from her childhood. 'He was never around when I was little, so it was just my mum and I. I was very close to my mum's side. 'Everyone was there to support me. But I think he just did some things a while back that ended him in places he shouldn't have been in. He just got involved with the wrong people,' she said. The heartfelt clip quickly racked up hundreds of thousands of views and comments, with fans flooding the comments section with support and admiration for Eve's strength. When asked what she would say to her mum today, Eve fought back tears again. 'How proud I am of her,' she replied. 'She's done a lot. She sacrificed a lot. She was working nine to five, and after that going to uni. 'She ended up getting her bachelor's in molecular genetics and biology. Seeing how strong she is, how much strength she's got to keep going through all of this - it makes me proud to be my mother's daughter.' Eve, who has grown up largely in the spotlight after Snezana found love with Sam Wood on The Bachelor in 2015, later commented under the clip, offering further insight into how hard it was to speak so vulnerably on camera. 'Thank you so much for letting me share my story,' she wrote. 'I was nervous about how this would be received, especially being vulnerable on social media, knowing how harsh it can be. But the kindness and messages I've received have meant more than I can explain.' Snezana and Jason's short-lived marriage lasted a year before the pair separated in 2005, when Eve was just two months old.
News.com.au
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Planning minister approves 11-storey tower at ex-ABC Elsternwick site
Elsternwick is set for a huge new, 11-storey tower after the Victorian government fast-tracked a $150m development of a former ABC complex that hosted iconic TV show Countdown. Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny has approved the controversial plan including 148 homes retail and office spaces, and 400-plus car parks atop a new Woolworths supermarket at the ex-ABC site, under the state's Development Facilitation Program. It aims to streamline the planning process for projects that will increase Victoria's pipeline of residences. Iconic Melbourne pool site could sell for up to $3m The development at 10-16 Selwyn St is located within the state government's future Activity Centre designated for the Elsternwick train station and tram zone, one of 50 earmarked for increased housing density across Melbourne. While community consultation is yet to happen for the Elsternwick area, some of the other activity zones are expected to potentially have buildings of up to 15 to 20 levels constructed. Previous plans for the Selwyn St site had also been set to add soaring towers, but prompted significant community backlash and didn't proceed. Records show the ABC sold the address for about $51.7m in 2017, after using it for recordings of Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell and The Weekly with Charlie Pickering. Countdown, a show hosted by music and TV industry legend Molly Meldrum in the 1970s and 1980s, was also sometimes filmed at the studio, warehouse and office site in addition to another nearby ex-ABC studio on Gordon St. In 2019, a group of residents held multiple protests against an earlier proposal to build two towers at the Selwyn St location amid overdevelopment fears. The newest plan features a mix of one, two and three-bedroom residences, with 10 per cent of the homes to be designated as affordable. A section of the development is set to become a community hub as part of Selwyn St's Jewish Arts Quarter. Planning documents prepared on behalf of Pace Development Group – who are developing the site on behalf of Woolworths – state that the hub will include a function space, museum and library. In addition to the studios, a heritage-listed former fire station on the site will be restored and repurposed as a BWS liquor store after Heritage Victoria green lit the suggestion. The development is close to the Elsternwick train station and other public transport. The planning documents state that the development is located in area where existing building heights range from one to 11 storeys. More than 4950 new homes have been fast-tracked through the Development Facilitation Program since September 2023. 'Victorians are telling us they want more homes in well-connected areas – and this project will deliver almost 150 homes right in the heart of Elsternwick, close to the train station, tram and bus stops,' Ms Kilkenny said. A local business operator, who asked not to be named, said although many residents were against too much development in the beachside suburb, there was a need for more density in Melbourne to help combat the housing crisis — and it should have been made taller. 'If Australia is genuine about solving the housing crisis, they will have to put up with density,' they said. 'And if ever there was a perfect site for density, it's this one.'
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The Bachelor couple Sam and Snezana Wood relist their jaw-dropping Elsternwick home for $6.6 million as they eye up an upgrade to a $14 million sprawling Brighton pad
Sam and Snezana Wood have relisted their lavish Elsternwick home with a massive $6.6 million price guide. The reality star couple, who met on season three of The Bachelor in 2015, initially put the home on the market in November last year but later withdrew it. The five-bedroom, five-bathroom mansion boasts an array of luxury amenities, including a 15-metre pool framed by Ironbark timber decking and a sun-drenched gym and sauna that overlooks the home's stunning green surroundings. Sam and Snezana initially bought the Victorian property in 2018 for $3.31m, renovating it into a modern oasis that reflects their passion for wellness. The home, built in 1900, was beautifully restored by the reality TV couple, and wows guests from the get-go with a dramatic arched hallway, 3.7 metre high ceilings and interiors straight out of an art magazine. 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. With north-facing living areas that effortlessly spill into the outdoors, the home is perfect for entertaining and hosting. Fitted with a luxurious fireplace to keep cosy in the winter months and an alfresco shower for washing off remnants of a summer beach day, the home can deliver for any occasion, rain or shine. The kitchen is the centrepiece of the home, with Carrara marble countertops, high-end appliances and a pantry big enough to do cartwheels in. Moving upstairs, a main bedroom offers serene park views from the bed, complete with a marble ensuite bathroom and spacious dressing room. Seeing as though Sam and Snezana share four children together - Evie, 20, Willow, seven, Charlie, five, and Harper, two - it's no surprise that the kids were well- catered for in the state-of-the-art abode. The home's children's wing allows for kids to have their own space while also boasting custom joinery and pocket doors for easy accessibility, while a guest suite with connecting bathroom ensures visitors are afforded privacy and luxury during their stay. Taylor Dow, DOW Real Estate's managing director, describe the home as one that stops its visitors in their tracks. 'You walk in, and it's a series of wow moments, the scale, the finishes, the calm that it carries,' he said. The home features an incredible gym and sauna 'There's a soul to it that's rare.' Sam and Snezana, who are still going strong nine years after meeting and falling in love on The Bachelor, are reportedly eyeing off a glorious mansion in one of Melbourne's most sought after postcodes. Real estate insiders say the hunky reality star and his wife have already laid out an eye-watering $14million for the sprawling pad. Located in seaside Brighton, 14kms from the CBD, the beautiful vintage multi-level estate boasts six-bedrooms, a pool and expansive gardens. However, the Herald Sun reported that the genetically-blessed pair have yet to seal the deal on the trophy home.
