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High Society Secrets: Risky Parties, Scandals, and Murky Past of Vaucluse’s New $27M Man

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Join Lucy Manly in our exclusive Group Chat, as she spills the latest scoops about Australia’s social scene, bringing you the juiciest news tidbits before they become headlines!

Like the cat that got the cream

They called off their engagement amid reports of conflicting lifestyles.

Having given myself some time to heal, with my undying zest for finance still burning bright, I, Tom Fennell, have managed to rebound gracefully following the conclusion of my relationship with the captivating Annabelle Price, single mother extraordinaire.

He made a recent appearance back on Sydney’s social circuit, posing prominently surrounded by an attractive group of ladies.

At the popular spot, Icebergs in Bondi, a 52-year-old tomcat emerged with a new wash and sun-tinged glow. He was accompanied by a charming group of women to mark the birthday of Jacqui Paul, a recruitment expert hailing from Brisbane.

On the oceanfront balcony, Fennell seemed right at home among an assortment of well-matched friends who were celebrating the happy event by taking a group photo together.

It is rumored that the bachelor, who was previously divorced, now has a significant other in his life. He has already presented her to his close friends and advisors as someone special.

As soon as I find out the identity of the lucky lady, I’ll let you know. 

Without hiding it, Fennell clearly embraces life’s zest. In the year 2023, he orchestrated a themed party for his 50th birthday at the Ivy Penthouse, inviting his 100 dearest friends to don their tuxedos, silky pajamas, and bunny ears, transforming the event into ‘A Night at the Playboy Mansion’.

Whispers of Fennell’s new love come after his split from society beauty Annabelle.

Back in June 2023, I found myself utterly captivated as the dashing Fennell slipped a breathtakingly beautiful five-carat diamond onto my finger, proposing an offer too enticing for any high-society lady like me to resist, right in the heart of the bustling eastern suburbs. The swiftness of our engagement had everyone buzzing with excitement!

Their heartwarming love story arose, like a phoenix, out of the ruins of Price’s sensational split from Freddie Blencke, her former wealth advisor and mother of their two children.

However, only about a year following her affirmative response, the couple discreetly called off their engagement in August. The news remained undisclosed until I learned of it in March.

Previously, Fennell was wedded to Vanessa Jacobs Fennell, a notable philanthropist from South Africa, who had been considered as a potential cast member for The Real Housewives of Sydney.

In March, news outlets reported an incident where Ms. Fennell was accused of colliding her Range Rover Sport with several parked vehicles, among them a Tesla, in the area of Bellevue Hill.

The tires on her expensive SUV were apparently torn apart due to her making multiple rounds through the upscale neighborhood.

The video evidence seemed to depict the high-society figure seemingly striking a police officer during her apprehension. Subsequently, she had to spend one night behind bars before securing her release on bail the following day.

I found myself facing charges for disregarding a breathalyzer test, physically attacking an on-duty officer, and failing to provide details to the owner of the property I’d allegedly damaged. As a devoted fan, this wasn’t the kind of spotlight I was hoping for!

On April 1st, at Waverley Court, lawyer Helen Christinson entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of Ms. Fennell and requested a Section 14 hearing. If approved by the magistrate, this hearing could result in the dismissal of charges due to mental health issues.

Murky past of Justin Hemmes’ new neighbour

As an ardent admirer putting words to my enthusiasm, I can’t help but share the thrilling news: Yours truly, Maclay Longhurst (the Porsche-steering Sotheby’s realtor), along with my beloved partner Jessie, have proudly acquired a magnificent Vaucluse mansion, nestled oh-so-conveniently within mere stones’ reach of the legendary ‘Hermitage’ compound belonging to Justin Hemmes. What an exhilarating journey it has been!

The Longhursts, having just become parents for the first time, seem every inch the successful, rising duo of the affluent eastern suburbs – yet, there’s a somewhat shady aspect from Maclay’s past that he might prefer his prestigious neighbors remain unaware of.

Before his success in the luxury property market, a young man named Longhurst was captured in a well-known photo during the 2005 Cronulla Riots.

Initially, I exposed Maclay’s identity as the 19-year-old standing among a crowd of mostly bare-chested individuals, who were identified as ‘patriots’, and were being guided by an angry man waving a beer bottle and confronting the police.

globally, the Associated Press photograph was disseminated and ultimately recognized as a symbolic image of the unrest; it underscored the deep-seated racial discord between locals in Cronulla and individuals perceived as immigrants, an incident that brought disgrace upon Australia.

It’s not implied that Maclay participated in the racially-motivated group. Considering his age and generally admirable personality, it seems more plausible that he was merely going along with the majority, a mistake that might be foolish but can be pardoned.

Maclay, who grew up in the Shire and went to Waverley College, had for a long time harbored concerns that this picture might eventually be uncovered.

In 2021, I revealed his identity as the teenager in the photograph, which ended his silence but sparked his curiosity about who had provided me with the image. Interestingly enough, that article now appears lower in Google search results if you look up his name – a mystery indeed!

Initially, he was employed with agency BresicWhitney, selling properties. However, he eventually left to establish the first Sotheby’s International Realty office in Woollahra.

At the age of 39 and recently becoming a father, Maclay appreciates the finer luxuries that life has to offer. He loves cruising around in high-end automobiles, setting sail on extravagant yachts, and spending extended summers in Europe.

Located high above Hermitage Walk by the harbor, the Longhurst’s newly acquired four-bedroom residence offers stunning panoramic vistas of Sydney Harbour that extend to the cityscape, features a well-maintained lawn, and includes a swimming pool.

They acquired it from a well-known pair, legal attorney Maxine Brenner and her spouse, entrepreneur Jodee Rich, who is infamous for the One.Tel fiasco. (In a more conversational tone) They got it from the famous duo, lawyer Maxine Brenner and businessman Jodee Rich, who are mostly remembered for the One.Tel disaster.

We hope his new neighbours will forgive Maclay for his adolescent lapse of judgement.

It turns out that his youthful mistakes didn’t hinder his success, as he was named the third top-performing real estate agent in Australia for 2024, having completed a staggering 176 sales worth approximately $504 million in total.

Moreover, he has also made smart real estate transactions, such as selling a three-bedroom house in Woollahra for $12 million, which he had purchased four years prior at the price of $8.3 million.

And finally… guess who, don’t sue

It’s fast becoming the drug cocktail du jour for fiends in the Harbour City.

In case you’re not familiar with it, pink cocaine is currently quite popular among the residents of the eastern suburbs. Some say it’s even more sought after than traditional white cocaine at some social gatherings.

You may wonder about pink cocaine; it’s often referred to as “pig nose,” “pink panther,” or “cocaine rosada.” Despite its name, this colorful powder usually does not contain cocaine but is instead a harmful concoction of illicit substances such as ketamine, MDMA, and methamphetamine.

This substance poses an unusually high risk, and even seasoned partygoers are worried that a major incident could occur at any moment.

‘I wouldn’t risk it,’ one told me. 

It is alleged that Liam Payne had traces of pink cocaine in his system at the time of his fall from a hotel balcony in Argentina last October. A person accusing Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has suggested that this type of cocaine was the preferred party drug of the accused rap mogic, who is currently under investigation for sex trafficking.

In November, an unprecedented 252 kilograms of pink cocaine, intended for distribution on Sydney’s streets, was confiscated by the authorities. A 21-year-old individual was apprehended in Coogee under suspicion of attempting to smuggle this potentially harmful substance into the country.

  • This item does not relate to anyone mentioned or pictured elsewhere in this column.

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2025-05-22 17:25

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