Private Sydney
A little bit rich
ANDREW HORNERY For 16 years the Gold Dinner has been the pinnacle of the Sydney society calendar, an evening bringing together the wealthiest and most influential silvertails in town to raise money for the Sydney Children's Hospital.
Murder, she wrote, a century too late
NATALIE BOCHENSKI Stephanie Bennett, 85, is sure she's solved the mystery behind the Gatton murders from 1898, writes Natalie Bochenski.
Break-up surprises those close to Murdoch
ANDREW HORNERY Rupert Murdoch and his third wife, Wendi Deng Murdoch, had been living as a married couple until just a few weeks ago.
The tiger who clawed her way into the Murdoch world
ANDREW HORNERY In the 14 years since Wendi Deng burst onto the media landscape as Rupert Murdoch's third wife, four decades his junior, the scent of scandal never quite dissipated.
Who leaked the story? How Madden made the news over drug find
ANDREW HORNERY In the wake of rock star Joel Madden's controversial hotel eviction this week, so many critical questions remain unanswered.
Hotel raid
Madden in 'meet and greet' with cancer victims while hotel room being searched
ANDREW HORNERY The Voice star Joel Madden was meeting a group of breast cancer patients, at the request of the hotel where he was staying, while his room was being searched for drugs.
Cash for comment
ANDREW HORNERY Last Sunday night there was a scene in Paper Giants: Magazine Wars showing a Woman's Day reporter and photographer surreptitiously offering cash payments to porters, security gorillas and chauffeurs in return for information on celebrities.
Hawkins and Wall's wedding snaps
ANDREW HORNERY Something borrowed, something blue, a drone, a sniper and a chopper … or two.
Gold Dinner
Gold dinner raises $1 million for charity
ANDREW HORNERY The Hordern Pavilion was transformed into a candle-lit floral extravaganza on Thursday night as 350 of the country's wealthiest and most influential citizens turned up for the annual Gold Dinner
The gold standard
ANDREW HORNERY While Sydney's silvertails are feeling the pinch in these tough economic times (what with coal prices crashing and the dollar on the nose), 350 of them have rallied around to cough up $1500 each to wine and dine at Thursday night's annual Gold Dinner.
500,000 reasons for bride to be happy
And the bride wore … a six-figure exclusive contract with a women's magazine.
Private Sydney
Stars and gripes
ANDREW HORNERY Is there anything more inane than the incessant, mindless prattle that emanates from a celebrity-filled red carpet?
Private Sydney
Manners rule as modern mavens battle their rivals
ANDREW HORNERY Being on the receiving end of Nene King on the warpath was one of those experiences you never forgot.
Private Sydney
Treasures of Olley's life go under the hammer
ANDREW HORNERY The late Margaret Olley's Paddington terrace house at 48 Duxford Street was filled to the brim with the colourful detritus the artist became synonymous with.
Private Sydney
Spruik of the devil
ANDREW HORNERY Giorgio Armani is paying his new ''ambassador'' Cate Blanchett a reported $10 million to spritz the world's media with his latest fragrance, having flown 150 international ''journalists'' to Milan on an almighty junket last week.
And what swell parties they were
ANDREW HORNERY It is usually the first weeks of winter which herald the hibernation period of that rarest of birds: the Sydney socialite, a creature more accustomed to the warm delights of a spray tan, Camilla kaftan and New Year's Eve fireworks than shivering on a red carpet.
Private Sydney
Not so fancy footwork as Gatsby star tumbles from stage
ANDREW HORNERY Sometimes event the best laid plans can go awry, as avante garde cabaret star Iota discovered last night at the Gatsby after party when he came flying off the stage just as he started his routine in front of 1200 VIP guests.
'Totally irrelevant': Hadley fires back at Carlton
ANDREW HORNERY Mike Carlton's comments about his old foe Ray Hadley were not the only ones to end up on the cutting room floor on Monday night's episode of Australian Story.
Mike Carlton lashes Australian Story for 'selective edits' over Ray Hadley comments
ANDREW HORNERY Mike Carlton has launched a stinging attack on the ABC's Australian Story, claiming his comments were "selectively edited" by the show's producers to give a glowing account of his former radio rival Ray Hadley.
Radio
'Now it feels right': Spencer to quit ABC after 14 years
ANDREW HORNERY There will be no more 3.20am wake-ups for ABC 702 announcer Adam Spencer, who has announced he will finish with the broadcaster on December 6, bringing an end to 14 years on air with ABC Radio, seven of them as breakfast presenter.
Private Sydney
Award madness
ANDREW HORNERY Nicole Kidman beamed into Redfern’s Carriageworks last Tuesday night via video link direct from the French Riviera to graciously accept her latest award.
Roxy, Rice row rumbles on
ANDREW HORNERY Stephanie Rice and publicity-seeking socialite Roxy Jacenko have been going at it hammer and tongs on Channel Nine's Celebrity Apprentice, but weeks after filming wrapped, their on-air battle has morphed into a public slanging match.
Secret surgery
How did Angelina keep it a secret?
ANDREW HORNERY That the woman dubbed 'St Angelina' in the showbiz press managed to keep her surgery a secret, in the era of the 24-hour, all-consuming news cycle, is verging on the miraculous.
Style awards
Thanks via video as Kidman cops another award in style
ANDREW HORNERY Nicole Kidman's trophy cabinet is already groaning, but the actor will no doubt be pushing her Golden Globes, BAFTAS, Oscar and United Nations Humanitarian Award aside to make way for her latest gong: InStyle magazine's Women of Style inaugural Hall of Fame Award.
Isla is red hot in Hollywood
ANDREW HORNERY Next week's Harper's Bazaar declares former Sydney actor Isla Fisher is Hollywood's ''flavour of the month'' with an exclusive interview and glam fashion shoot at the famed Chateau Marmont.
Private Sydney
Wake in fright
Samantha Selinger-Morris For decades now, the stars have flocked to writing kids’ books. Their contributions have covered all sorts of territory, from the schmaltzy (Billy Crystal’s I Already Know I Love You) to the instructive (Julianne Moore’s ode to conquering teasing, Freckleface Strawberry) and downright strange (Jay Leno’s If Roast Beef Could Fly).
Private Sydney
Always a nose for the mighty dollar
Damien Murphy The Independent Commission Against Corruption continues to provide evidence of Ian Macdonald's deft touch with business negotiations.
Dynamic duo called in to help right the ship
Damien Murphy Two women, Christine Hopton and Lynette Barratt, have come to the rescue of the beleaguered Surf Life Saving Australia.
Unexpected arrival
Baby comes fashionably early
DAISY DUMAS Two days before her label's Fashion Week show, Jessie White wasn't buried in last-minute graft, but in the unexpected arrival of her newborn son.
Accidental outrage
Samantha Selinger-Morris When the stars tumble into trouble, they usually keep it local. That is, they stick to bagging out their nearest and dearest, as the Kardashian siblings have done this week, by filing a lawsuit against their ex-stepmother, Ellen Pearson. (She's sold excerpts of their late father's diary to In Touch Weekly magazine. They've taken her to court to get the diary back.)
