The secret love life of Ben Roberts-Smith’s nemesis Nick McKenzie – including a fling that had the industry talking… Plus, TikTok socialites’ AVO war ends with a howler: THE GROUP CHAT

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A source of gossip

Journalist Nick McKenzie is receiving widespread praise for his extensive investigation into accusations of war crimes committed by Ben Roberts-Smith. This week, the investigation led to charges being filed against the highly decorated Australian soldier.

Roberts‑Smith has always maintained his innocence.

As many of you know, this reporter keeps his personal life very private, and for a good reason.

Although McKenzie is known as a thoughtful and serious journalist, it’s well-known that he enjoys relaxing and having fun after finishing a major story.

When gossip columnists get together to discuss the latest news, Nicky’s skill at charming people is almost always a topic of conversation.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been keeping a close eye on what everyone’s talking about, and I noticed something interesting. My old piece about McKenzie and a rumored girlfriend suddenly got a lot of attention after the recent arrest at Sydney Airport. It got me thinking – now’s the perfect time to take a fresh look at the women who’ve been connected to him.

Let’s start with the fact the 20-time Walkley Award winner used to be a married man.

He was married before to Kylie Trounson, who is a playwright, actor, and lawyer based in Melbourne. They have two children together.

Their marriage unfortunately ended a few years ago. I heard that Nick then briefly dated a publicist, which the media talked about for a while.

Not that it takes much to do that these days.

As I mentioned last September, the 46-year-old has been dating retired Australian rules football player Elise O’Dea, 34, for around a year, and they’ve kept the relationship very private.

People who know the couple say McKenzie was making a big effort to keep their relationship private, avoiding public appearances and events that would attract attention from the media.

A former colleague explained that O’Dea preferred to keep his personal life private, avoiding public displays of affection. This was due to the sensitive nature of his investigations and the dangers involved in his work.

Druggies at the servo

I didn’t anticipate the phone call I received during the long weekend, but I’m very glad I answered it.

Someone from Melbourne who gathers information told me they recently saw Antony Catalano. Just to be clear, I don’t know him personally.

‘Impossible,’ I replied. ‘He’s in rehab.’

Which is true – but he wasn’t exactly out of reach.

Similar to the story of Jesus rising from the tomb on Easter, a cat named The Cat also had a remarkable springtime return – but his was a planned and supervised departure from his vet’s office.

Someone who knows the situation spotted the head of ACM and owner of the Raes on Wategos hotel in person – not at his exclusive rehab facility, but at a regular 7-Eleven store.

He wasn’t wandering alone; it seemed like a group outing with others who were also struggling with personal issues.

‘He was on an “outing” with his rehab crew,’ said my source.

Around twenty-five people were standing outside, and I initially thought the gas station was out of gas. But when I looked again, I realized it was just The Cat who had drawn the crowd.

The father-of-nine – yes, nine – is about two weeks into an inpatient stint at The Delmont.

This exclusive recovery center is located in the upscale Glen Iris neighborhood of Melbourne. It’s known for being very well-organized and maintaining a disciplined, straightforward approach to helping people get better.

It’s not inexpensive, but people say it’s really effective at helping individuals achieve lasting sobriety.

Patients participate in full-day group therapy sessions designed to address addiction. While the program is demanding and keeps people focused inward, it also incorporates supervised trips outside the facility from time to time.

Fifty-nine-year-old Catalano admitted himself for a planned 28-day stay, but it’s uncertain if he will complete the full program.

Even though the environment is highly controlled, limited contact with the outside world is allowed. For instance, phone calls are limited to just five minutes daily, and most of that time is used to speak with his lawyers.

And it’s that legal situation that continues to cast the longest shadow.

The part-owner of several regional newspapers, like The Canberra Times, Newcastle Herald, and Illawarra Mercury, has been accused of seriously assaulting someone at his Melbourne apartment last month.

Police say the situation quickly became much worse, involving accusations of physical attack, being held against someone’s will, and a death threat.

Parts of the incident reportedly spilled into a common hallway and were captured on CCTV.

He’s facing serious accusations, but while awaiting his next court date on May 11th, he’ll likely be spending his time planning his defense – perhaps with a Slurpee and a costly pie from the bakery.

Dismissed!

I might be showing my age, but I really miss the old days when famous people could have public feuds with harsh words without immediately resorting to legal action.

Alas, ’tis 2026 and hurt feelings must be answered with restraining orders these days.

Of course, I am talking about TikTok pocket rocket Elle Salagaras and her former BFF Cindy Kilian.

Fans of this column will recall that Kilian, a Canadian actress known for her dramatic flair, was trying to get a restraining order against Salagaras, who appears to be around 5’1″ tall when wearing heels.

Recent hearings about the issue didn’t accomplish much of anything. It was all talk and no action.

Everything concluded quietly on Wednesday, exactly as I expected, when Kilian decided to withdraw her application.

Case dismissed. 

Salagaras, who used to be known online as @Elle_EasternSuburbsMum, is married to Lucas Salagaras, a managing director at the private equity firm Point Capital. They have three children together.

Last month, I shared that a former real estate agent and nightclub employee had recently received breast implants as a gift from her husband.

It seemed like a harmless thing, so I was shocked when she publicly complained on social media about being photographed outside the house they were renting in the eastern suburbs.

She’s performing her latest show at Coachella this weekend. If you want to keep up with her, her username is @thats_so_elle.

Spice up your life

The most-talked-about cosmetician in the Wild West is back.

It’s interesting to see Clara Hurst re-emerging in Perth’s social scene. After a difficult 18 months – following the unexpected passing of her husband, Dr. David Hurst – she seems ready to reconnect. It was a very public tragedy, with Dr. Hurst found at the Crown casino while Clara and their children were away in Bali, and I’m sure it’s been a challenging time for the whole family. It’s lovely to see her starting this new chapter.

It’s a really heartbreaking situation, but honestly, people haven’t been as kind to Clara as you’d expect for a woman who’s lost her husband. There’s a reason for that, and I think it’s something you’ll understand as the story unfolds.

Dr. Hurst died in December 2024, and after his death, it was discovered he had taken $7.1 million from his dental practice, Perth Dental Rooms. The full scope of his financial wrongdoing wasn’t known until after he passed away.

David stole money from his patients, some of whom had even used their retirement savings at his urging. This caused significant hardship and financial loss for them, as he spent the funds on an extravagant lifestyle and likely fueled a gambling problem that led to severe debt.

Before taking his own life, David Hurst and his wife, Clara, spent lavishly, purchasing a $223,320 Porsche Cayenne, a $6.5 million home, and taking international trips costing over $200,000.

Clara didn’t know her husband was operating his business while deeply in debt, and there’s no evidence she knew about his dishonest actions. However, she’s now facing pressure from patients who paid him up to $2.36 million in advance for dental implants and procedures. These procedures were either poorly done, unfinished, or never began.

I can’t imagine how incredibly tough this must be. She’s already dealing with so much pain from her loss, and now she’s raising two children all on her own. It’s a huge weight on her shoulders, and my heart goes out to her.

This isn’t a problem that will resolve on its own, particularly now that the law firm Slater and Gordon is collecting evidence from patients and pursuing those responsible for the damage done.

I’m hearing from sources in Perth that Clara is starting to reappear at social events. She recently went to a 40th birthday party in Dalkeith and a 50th in Peppermint Grove, and apparently dressed up in costume for both.

‘She also hosted a housewarming party at her home last month – the Claremont house she recently renovated,’ a source told me.

There wasn’t much interesting news from the party. People mostly just sat around drinking champagne and weren’t discussing the affairs of her late husband’s previous clients.

Onwards and upwards, then?

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2026-04-09 16:51