Welcome to The Group Chat with Lucy Manly, where Australia’s most-trusted society insider shares the hottest gossip BEFORE it makes the news.
Gossip is par for the course at ritzy golf club
It takes more than a hefty bank balance to gain access to the Harbour City’s most secretive and exclusive golf club, Royal Sydney.
The eastern suburbs club, known for its peerless networking opportunities among the bigwigs of law, finance and business, has welcomed a new member to its ranks: Nicholas Pitt, the lawyer ex-husband of socialite and publicist Montarna McDonald.
Against the backdrop of his acrimonious marriage split, Nick has been patiently sitting through the decade-long waiting list after stumping up the $50,000 admission fee.
According to Royal Sydney’s membership guidelines, members may only propose two candidates a year.
Following his split from wife Montarna McDonald (right), lawyer Nicholas Pitt (left) has been granted membership of the Royal Sydney Golf Club
My sources in the ‘Silver Fox Set’ say Pitt joined the Royal Sydney (pictured) earlier this year. The mysterious nature of the Pitts’ divorce has led to some chatter on the golf course recently
To gain acceptance to the prominent sporting institution you need to be well-acquainted with five members – three of whom you’ve known for five years, and two of whom you’ve known for seven.
Those who have known you the longest can then sponsor you to join their ranks in the $6,000-a-year golf club.
My sources in the ‘Silver Fox Set’ confirm Pitt joined earlier this year, following his split from Montarna and about the time he sold their marital home in Paddington, and has been making the most of his membership.
These middle-aged titans of industry aren’t the typical gossiping type, but I am reliably informed the mysterious nature of the Pitts’ divorce has led to some chatter on the golf course recently.
Royal Sydney boasts a distinguished list of members including Chris Chapman, the chairman of the Australian Communications and Media Authority from 2006 to 2016; former politician and diplomat Joe Hockey; ex-NAB CEO Cameron Clyne; and Graeme Bailey, the erstwhile COO of KPMG Asia Pacific.
Chapman has been president since 2019, succeeding Bailey.
The strict nominee guidelines got the late Kerry Packer in hot water after the club rejected his candidate.
Packer then sought membership further south at The Australian Club in Rosebery, another top-tier club with an estimated entry fee of $28,000.
Socialite and publicist Montarna McDonald looked incredible at Bondi Beach on February 7
The media mogul gave his new club a rather sizeable cash injection to help it overtake Royal Sydney as the best course in Australia.
Tech boss’ wife ‘on the warpath’
He just returned from an overseas holiday to what I can only imagine is the email backlog from hell after his alleged penchant for womanising was once again splashed across the front pages.
Now rumour has it WiseTech co-founder Richard White‘s alleged dalliances have become too much for his wife Zena Nasser, whose patience for his continued indiscretions is wearing thin.
Sources tell me the former criminal defence lawyer, who married White in July, the same month they welcomed a baby girl named Jasmine via a U.S. surrogate, is on the warpath after it was alleged White had provided financial support to a female employee, Caroline Heidemann, in return for a sexual relationship.
White strongly denied the woman’s claims and has said he ‘intends to vigorously defend all allegations’ after documents were filed with the Federal Court last week.
If Nasser and White are on the outs – which is what my insiders are telling me – it won’t be a quick and quiet divorce. They are financially intertwined as equal shareholders of several companies, which will no doubt complicate matters.
WiseTech hit a trading halt on Thursday as the directors considered ‘undisclosed governance matters’ following the allegations levelled against White. The halt was needed ‘to enable the company to be in a position to provide an update on current board discussions relating to matters of governance,’ a representative said.
Rumour has it WiseTech co-founder Richard White’s alleged dalliances have become too much for his wife Zena Nasser, whose patience for his continued indiscretions is wearing thin
Zena famously flaunted her wealth in a TikTok video featuring White (right) in July 2023
White is one of the richest people in Australia, according to the Australian Financial Review Rich List. Most of his wealth is tied up in his 37.4 per cent stake in WiseTech, which is worth $16.5billion.
The tech mogul was previously involved in a headline-making legal dispute with his ex-lover, laser clinics entrepreneur Linda Rogan, who alleged White had offered to invest in her business in exchange for sex.
At the centre of the Federal Court proceedings was a $13.1million mansion in Sydney’s east, which Rogan claimed White had bought for her to live in with her three children.
Rogan, who never moved into the house, claimed White took back the keys after Nasser discovered they were in a romantic relationship.
The matter with Rogan was eventually settled, with White’s spokesman saying: ‘Mr White has settled to avoid any distraction from his primary focus which is on implementing WiseTech’s growth strategy and continuing to create value for its shareholders and customers.’
Cashed-up ex-wife still flogging handbags
Just weeks after The Group Chat revealed the former wife of Laser Clinics Australia co-founder Alistair Champion was about to open her own cosmetic clinic, Kate Champion is back to flogging her designer goods online.
Last week, the mother of two was trying to offload her extensive and exxy handbag collection on Instagram under the handle Selling Lottie’s Heirlooms.
The items for sale included a $19,000 Chanel classic flap bag, a Chanel Coco Handle for $6,900, a Chanel top handle university bag for $4,700, a classic white for $5,570 and a Chanel clutch for $5,000.
Kate Champion (left), the former wife of Laser Clinics Australia co-founder Alistair Champion (right), is back to flogging her designer goods online
Kate is making extra cash on the side selling unwanted luxury items from her wardrobe
The items for sale included a $19,000 Chanel classic flap bag, a Chanel Coco Handle for $6,900, a Chanel top handle university bag for $4,700, a classic white for $5,570 and a Chanel clutch for $5,000
She was even flogging the much-sought-after Hermès Kelly in gold, complete with gold hardware and Togo leather, for a whopping $32,000.
‘Go be extra nice to your husbands ladies!!’ she wrote alongside it.
And finally… guess who, don’t sue
When it’s your job to look after the children of the uber wealthy, discretion is Nanny 101.
However, one professional babysitter broke that cardinal rule the moment she was fired.
After being let go by the wife of the cashed-up family, this loose-lipped nanny decided to drop a bombshell on her way out the door, accusing the husband of sliding into her DMs repeatedly to catch up for drinks.
Yikes!
Next time they might think about making the help sign an NDA!
The subjects of this blind item are not pictured or mentioned elsewhere in this article.
