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Allison Baden-Clay’s three daughters have stepped out in support of the foundation that bears her name. WE’VE GOT THE SCOOP
Confidential
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It was a sea of yellow at Hillstone St Lucia as more than 400 guests, including some of Queensland’s most recognisable faces, came together for the Strive To Be Kind Day lunch.
Media personalities, politicians and dignitaries filled the sold-out ballroom on Friday, supporting the Allison Baden-Clay Foundation’s powerful mission to prevent domestic and family violence through education and awareness.
Notable guests included foundation ambassadors Annastacia Palaszczuk, Sharyn Ghidella and Dame Quentin Bryce, along with radio favourites Laurel Edwards and Loretta Ryan, and MPs Amanda Camm and Di Farmer — all dressed in the event’s signature yellow.
In an emotional and inspiring moment, Allison’s three daughters, Hannah, Sarah and Ella, took to the stage with remarkable composure to speak about the importance of teaching young people what healthy relationships look like.
The event also marked the launch of the Foundation’s fourth Power and Control Wheel, this time tailored for parents.
The tool is designed to help identify signs that their children may be experiencing intimate abuse.
With growing national concern around teenage boys’ online influences and attitudes towards women, the Foundation is calling for early intervention. Youth advocate Daniel Principe delivered a stirring keynote on reshaping masculinity and the importance of positive role models.
ANNA’S BIG BIRTHDAY SPLASH
Annastacia Palaszczuk has splashed birthday holiday photos onto Instagram of herself in the scenic rim with her Brisbane weight loss surgeon partner.
The former Queensland Premier celebrated her 56th birthday alongside high-profile doctor Reza Adib in a rural Queensland cottage in the Boonah area.
The couple – who revealed their partnership in 2021 – stayed at Milford Country Cottages who offer two-bedroom self-contained homes in the Scenic Rim.
They later took to the nearby French and English restaurant, Roast Beef & The Frog, to dig into creamy parsnip soup, slow-cooked turkey and a Christmas pudding spring roll.
This birthday weekend followed a busy week including a Friday appearance at the 14th annual Strive To Be Kind Day lunch honouring Allison Baden-Clay.
RUMOURS OF NEW FLAME WEEKS AFTER SPLIT
Less than five weeks after confirming her split from husband of seven months, Matt Zukowski, the Gold Coast fitness mogul Tammy Hembrow has set tongues wagging again … this time, with whispers of a new flame.
The 31-year-old influencer shared a carousel of glam snaps from the AFR 30th Anniversary Gala in Sydney this week, but it wasn’t her cut-out gown showcasing her toned torso that had fans zooming in. It was the man beside her.
In one of the final slides, Hembrow is captured flashing a flirty side-eye to suave Sydney-based strategist Addison Gazal, a photo that sent her 17 million followers into detective mode.
“Yeah cheers I look great thanks,” Gazal cheekily commented on the post, seemingly playing it cool.
But 24 hours later, Hembrow uploaded an Instagram Story of the same man serenading her on the piano with Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love.
While neither party has confirmed a relationship, that hasn’t stopped fans from speculating that this may be Hembrow’s new man.
According to his bio, Gazal is an integrated strategist with a resume boasting clients like Uber, Unilever, and NSW Health.
The potential rebound romance comes after a string of headlines following Hembrow’s emotional split from Love Island alum Zukowski.
She officially confirmed the break-up on June 22 in a tearful TikTok, admitting, “I’ve made not the best choices when it comes to relationships” and adding that her priority was her children, not herself.
Days earlier, eyebrows were raised after Zukowski was spotted in Melbourne looking cosy with a female friend, mere hours before news of the break-up broke.
Adding fuel to the post-split drama, Hembrow recently offloaded all three of her Vera Wang wedding dresses, declaring they “don’t really hold the sentimental value anymore.”
The gowns — one reportedly worth $12,800 — were rumoured to have been gifted as part of a sponsorship deal, prompting mixed reactions from fans, with some branding them “cursed.”
BRISBANE HAIRDRESSER LANDS SPOT ON THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN BAKE OFF
A Brisbane hairdresser is swapping scissors for spatulas and taking his talents to prime-time television.
Gregson Gastar, a beloved stylist at Epic Hair in Ascot, is one of 12 home bakers starring in the new season of The Great Australian Bake Off, premiering July 29 on Foxtel and Binge.
Known for his creative flair in the salon and his weekly deliveries of homemade sweets to clients, the 46-year-old East Brisbane local said he was mid-foils when he got the life-changing call.
“I was mid-foils, toner bowl in one hand, when the call came through I was going to be on the show,” he said.
“I screamed! The whole salon went dead silent, and then I just bawled my eyes out.”
His love for baking began at age 10 with a Women’s Weekly chocolate cake recipe — and never stopped.
“While most kids were outside riding bikes, I was in the kitchen,” he said. “That book was my first taste of how fun cooking could be.”
Though still working full-time as a hairdresser, Gregson said baking, cooking and even knitting helped keep his creativity flowing.
“I call myself bros with rows sometimes,” he joked.
He credited his 30-year hairdressing career with preparing him for the Bake Off shed. “Learning to multi-task in hairdressing has given me that edge in terms of timings and being able to strategise bakes — although with a slight bit of manic energy,” he said.
Born in Melbourne but proudly based in Brisbane for more than a decade, Gregson said the outpouring of support from clients and strangers alike had been humbling.
“One message in particular really stopped me in my tracks. They said, ‘I don’t even like baking but I’ll be watching just because you’re in it,” Gastar revealed.
Having already had one iconic on-screen moment — his wedding to husband Brad, featuring musical vows and a flash mob, was broadcast on Extreme Weddings: Australia — Gastar said his dream now was to one day front his own cooking show.
“It’ll be ‘What’s in Gregson’s Kitchen?’,” he said.
“The vibe is what I have in my pantry or fridge that I can whip up that anyone can do, but with a Filo twist … maybe incorporate a karaoke song of the week!
“Above all it’ll be colourful, fun and full of heart, and probs as camp as Christmas!”
REDUNDANCY NEVER LOOKED SO CHIC: TEN’S LORRAINE MONFORTE EXITS STAGE LEFT
One of Brisbane’s best-known media liaisons is signing off from Channel 10, as the network shifts towards a more centralised national publicity model.
Lorraine Monforte, who has led publicity efforts for the Queensland office for more than a decade, has been made redundant as part of the latest round of cuts at the broadcaster.
Taking the news in stride, Monforte shared a tongue-in-cheek farewell on social media, calling it the “series finale” of her Channel 10 chapter.
“I’m taking suggestions for what music should play over my slow-motion exit montage,” she joked.
Known in media circles as one of the best in the business, Monforte has worked on everything from reality juggernauts to news programming, building strong relationships with press and talent alike.
She said she now plans to embrace her “Redundancy Era” — which includes “long lunches, reckless spending and pretending I’m a wealthy divorcee living it up in the Italian Riviera” — before tackling whatever comes next.
Her final day at the network is next week.
WHERE IS ROBIN BAILEY?
Listeners tuning into KIIS97.3’s breakfast show this week were left scratching their heads, with longtime host Robin Bailey missing from the airwaves for three consecutive mornings.
Speculation quickly took off as comedian Mel Buttle filled in alongside Kip Wightman and Corey Oates on Friday, prompting fans to question the popular presenter’s whereabouts.
Given Bailey’s history — including a memorable 2023 no-show after she accidentally reversed into her son’s car on the way to work — loyal listeners were understandably concerned.
But Scoop can confirm there’s no drama behind the mic this time.
According to a station spokesperson, Bailey has simply been “under the weather” and is expected to return to the Robin, Kip & Oates breakfast show on Monday.
Her brief absence happened to coincide with the release of Tuesday’s GfK radio ratings, which saw KIIS97.3 slip to fourth place in Brisbane’s hotly contested breakfast slot, trailing Nova 106.9, B105 and Triple M.
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