Hi, I’m Lucy Manly, and welcome to my space! I’m known as Australia’s go-to society insider, and here’s the deal: I share the latest buzz and happenings before they hit the headlines. Consider this your exclusive first look at what’s really going on!
‘You to not write any deformation’
Yuliya Sharipova, once a well-known socialite in Sydney, was recently in court following a reported domestic dispute with her partner, Aaron Powell, who works in logistics.
A domestic violence order was put in place to protect Powell, and it was valid from December 3, 2025, to December 2, 2027.
The court order prevents Sharipova from hurting, threatening, or bothering Powell in any way. This includes physical harm, stalking, damaging his belongings, or harming any animals he owns or cares for.
Additionally, she is prohibited from being near Powell for twelve hours after consuming alcohol or using illegal drugs. It’s important to note that the group chat doesn’t claim she has actually done any of these things – it simply outlines the conditions of the Apprehended Domestic Violence Order.
I’ve been following this case closely, and it’s interesting to see how things are unfolding. Even though she didn’t show up for court last Wednesday – I heard it might have been because of the harsh lights at Downing Centre – Sharipova is now trying to get the whole thing thrown out.
Responding via text in broken English, Sharipova told The Group Chat:
I was honestly a little shocked when she replied to my message with a simple ‘No avocado at all?! What are you even saying? Where did you hear that?’ It came through on WhatsApp, and it felt pretty direct, to say the least. Sometimes people just react, and it’s clear she needed some clarification!
I strongly advise you not to make any false statements. Otherwise, you could face legal action.
Sharipova has just returned from Russia and is quickly becoming a hot topic in the eastern suburbs. She’s already making a splash by re-engaging with the social circuit.
Mark Powell, who leads operations at Tyne Container Services, frequently collaborates with the Tzaneros family, a highly influential force in the freight and logistics industry.
I saw Sharipova on Tuesday at Indigo, her favorite breakfast spot in Double Bay. Her bright green Lamborghini was hard to miss, parked right out front.
I have to say, she just floated into the room, and her outfit was everything. She was wearing these simple, but clearly high-end, Alaïa flats – I later found out they cost over a thousand dollars! – paired with this tiny Caeli skirt and matching sweater. But the real showstopper was her bag: a beautiful blue Hermès Mini Kelly. Those bags are seriously coveted, and can cost anywhere from $17,800 to $34,000! It’s always fascinating to see what she’ll wear next, even if her whole career path is a bit of a puzzle.
D-day for the Kambala crew
The trip was planned as an unforgettable vacation: a luxurious getaway to a Greek island for a select group of parents whose daughters all attended the prestigious Kambala school in Rose Bay, where tuition costs $49,000 annually.
The 2016 trip to Mykonos, which was meant to be a fun getaway, instead became a major scandal for a prominent group of friends. It resulted in a shocking rape conviction for a wealthy man, ruined friendships, and completely fractured a once close-knit social circle.
Sources say the Kambala family is preparing for a new trial in Greece concerning accusations of assaulting a woman whose name hasn’t been released. While it might happen next year, delays in the Greek legal system mean it could be pushed back to 2027.
Some of the people who were partying in Mykonos are likely to travel from Sydney to share what they know. And even those who can’t come will be named – unlike in Australia, their identities won’t be kept secret.
Nic Stavropoulos, who was convicted in May 2025 but is appealing the decision (a common practice in Greece), is expected to continue strongly denying the accusations against him.
As a lifestyle expert, I’m following this case closely, and here’s what I understand: the legal proceedings will be held in Greek, but don’t worry, English-speaking witnesses will have translators available. What’s really interesting is that the security footage from Nammos nightclub – where everything supposedly happened – will be shown publicly in court, so everyone can see it.
Rumors are circulating that video footage will show wealthy Australian tourists behaving wildly, specifically dancing on tables. The release of this footage is expected to cause a big reaction.
Stavropoulos, a 50-year-old man, was initially found guilty seven months ago by a court in Naxos of sexually assaulting a well-known woman in a nightclub restroom while they were traveling. Because he appealed the decision, Greek law requires a complete new trial.
The saga, now entering its tenth year, continues to divide the close-knit social group.
The event happened during a birthday celebration for a 40th birthday, attended by parents of former Kambala students – children who have either graduated or no longer attend the school.
The ten couples involved now face the possibility of their names and details being made public during the new trial, and they’ll likely receive a lot of attention from the Australian media.
The most notable guest at the holiday gathering was Eleni Taylor, who is known for being the former wife of construction executive Mark Taylor and for a previous relationship with celebrity accountant Anthony Bell, before he married Annika Martyn.
Earlier this year, a socialite finished a major remodel of her Bellevue Hill house, working with well-known designer Greg Natale. She was also considered as a cast member for the 2023 season of The Real Housewives of Sydney.
Despite consistently claiming he didn’t commit the crime, Stavropoulos was sentenced to six years in prison by a court in Naxos in May.
He hasn’t been jailed and is currently awaiting the outcome of his appeal, which will take place on the mainland. He still lives in Point Piper, one of Australia’s wealthiest neighborhoods.
Ms. Taylor and all the parents on the trip, except for Stavropoulos who is challenging his conviction, are not facing any accusations of wrongdoing.
The Main attraction
Simon Main, a well-known and somewhat eccentric figure around Kings Cross, is facing trouble again.
This time, he’s facing a police-initiated AVO application to protect a Double Bay investor.
A close friend of radio personality Kyle Sandilands, who has a conviction for drug dealing, will appear in a Sydney court later this month. He’s accused of an altercation with Martin Border, who bought Ken Weiss’s expensive beachfront property in 2017. Ken Weiss is the brother of fashion designer Peter Weiss.
Even for someone as known for outlandish behavior as Russell Cross, Feather-haired Main has a particularly wild history. He was Sandilands’ best man at the KIIS FM presenter’s extravagant wedding in 2023.
After attending Scots College, he spent four years in an Italian prison, serving time for involvement in a massive drug bust. Authorities at the time called it the largest ecstasy seizure in Europe‘s history – over 333,000 pills with an estimated street value of $10 million.
He’s led a remarkably eventful life. He’s dated actress Nicollette Sheridan, served as Liza Minnelli’s assistant, and after being released from prison in Trieste in 2004, quickly resumed his fast-paced life in Sydney.
He ran a brothel near Kings Cross, managed an escort service called Prive, and transported sex workers in a limousine he nicknamed the ‘Booty Bentley’.
Main even spent time in Beirut, where he was reportedly chasing business deals.
With the police pursuing a restraining order and another court date approaching, things are heating up for Main, mirroring the turmoil of the recent past.
He is scheduled to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on December 19.
You can’t keep a party girl down
Kashaya Williams, a lively woman from the eastern suburbs known for her parties despite being short on cash, celebrated her 41st birthday on Wednesday and wasn’t going to let money problems ruin the fun.
The ex-florist from Double Bay made a glamorous entrance at popular Sydney venues, showcasing expensive designer items like a $5,000 YSL bag and Christian Louboutin heels.
Kashaya started the celebrations with lunch at Mr Wong’s, joined by interior designer Raymond Xie. Afterwards, she and her friends headed to The Press, Merivale’s new late-night venue, for a birthday party.
She definitely wasn’t trying to be subtle. It’s known she paid $5,000 to rent a booth at The Press.
Last October, I saw the woman – who a court determined had used a fake letter to illegally claim her grandfather’s house after a family argument over his estate – enjoying a VIP experience at Pelicano in Kings Cross.
I’d seen her back in May at the Royal, the pub next to Totti’s. She was wearing a short, somewhat mismatched lace dress and confidently enjoying a glass of rosé.
This happened just weeks before she filed for bankruptcy again and had to appear in Waverley Local Court to deal with traffic violations – specifically, speeding and driving with a suspended license – charges she is now trying to have dismissed.
She’s facing bigger problems than a minor traffic incident. Apparently, she’s been evicted from her Double Bay house – a source says the landlord changed the locks because she hadn’t been paying rent.
Sources say her sons are currently staying with their grandmother on the Central Coast, while Kashaya is still a regular face at parties in Sydney. It’s a complicated situation, to say the least.
Big Jim’s big feud
You’ve probably already seen the strange video of businessman ‘Big’ Jim Byrnes being arrested after a car accident in Bondi.
According to reports, he was driving a classic 1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS when he lost control while turning onto Richard Road near Bondi Beach around 6:00 PM on November 7th.
Oh my god, you will NOT believe what happened! This absolutely gorgeous, classic 1968 Camaro SS – seriously, a dream car – just completely wrecked everything! I heard it slammed right into this poor red Mazda CX-5, then somehow managed to flatten a Vespa! But it didn’t stop there! It then hit a white Volkswagen, which then got pushed into another white Mitsubishi! A four-car wreck caused by that car… it’s insane, but honestly, even causing chaos, it’s still beautiful!
The wealthy financier entered a not-guilty plea at Newtown Local Court on Wednesday. It was a noticeable change from his previous court appearance, where he arrived in a Bentley, but this time he took an Uber.
But the story only gets weirder.
A few weeks after the crash, a surprising message appeared on a local Facebook page. A young man claimed he was the rightful owner of the Camaro.
Okay, so things are getting interesting! A local named William O’Halloran really put the pressure on by publicly asking for video evidence of Byrnes driving that Chevy – apparently, he feels it rightfully belongs to him. It’s a bold move, going straight to the community to try and prove his point, and it’s definitely created a buzz around here.
‘This is my family trust’s car… I need the video for insurance and court,’ he wrote.
Byrnes states the car is technically O’Halloran’s, but only because Byrnes financed the purchase with a loan and holds a legal claim on it as collateral.
O’Halloran stated that he never took out a loan to buy the Camaro. However, he did previously have a loan for a Corvette, which has since been paid off.
‘I am not personally the owner. It is in a family trust with corporate trustee,’ he added.
After appearing in court, Byrnes said he was requesting an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) against O’Halloran because he had received threatening text messages.
Look, I’ve been following this closely, and from what I understand, O’Halloran reacted to some pretty serious threats. He says he responded, but only as much as he felt was necessary given what was said to him – a reasonable reaction, if you ask me.
The story continues…
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2025-12-11 16:24