The Scoop: The secret Shayna Jack was keeping from the world
Aussie Olympian Shayna Jack has revealed why she kept a life-changing secret from the world, only deciding to go public this week. WE’VE GOT THE SCOOP
Entertainment
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Australian swimming sensation Shayna Jack, 25, has shared new romantic details of her engagement to long-time partner, hockey star Joel Rintala, revealing that the magical moment happened at one of the world’s most iconic locations — Rome’s Trevi Fountain.
“He actually popped the question in Rome at the Trevi Fountain after I made a wish,” Jack told Scoop.
“He was very smart about it. He knew that I would wish for a lifetime with him because I’ve always kind of said it. We’ve been together for eight years, so I’ve been waiting for the moment.”
Despite being together for nearly a decade, Jack confessed that the proposal came as a surprise.
“I never thought he would do it overseas, but he did, and I was filled with joy. I did get emotional, and I was actually shaking because I was filled with that much excitement,” she said.
While the couple announced their engagement on August 25, Jack revealed the proposal actually took place two weeks earlier during their post-Olympics European getaway. The lovebirds decided to keep the joyous news a secret for a while, cherishing the intimate experience in their “bubble” before sharing it with the world.
“We wanted to spend that next week and a half just enjoying each other’s moment and embracing it before we came home,” Jack shared.
Resisting the urge to share the news immediately, Jack and Rintala opted to keep their engagement a secret to fully relish in their happiness.
“It was hard, trust me, I wanted to share with everyone, but we thought that, you know, for me, I wanted to really just embrace the moment, live in the moment, while I was away,” she explained.
When Jack finally shared the news on Instagram, the couple was met with an outpouring of congratulations from the Australian swimming community, including stars like Ariarne Titmus, Mollie O’Callaghan, Bronte Campbell and Meg Harris.
“So happy for you guys,” O’Callaghan wrote.
STACIA MAKES INSTA RETURN, SHOWS SHE’S ‘OVER’ POLITICS
Annastacia Palaszczuk has finally resurfaced on social media nearly nine months after stepping away from politics – and her followers are stoked.
Spotted sitting front row at Brisbane’s Fashion Week on Thursday – sandwiched neatly between Brisbane’s Lord Mayoress Nina Schrinner and beau Dr Reza Adib – the former premier was pictured sporting a gorgeous blonde blowout, white blazer and pearlearrings.
She also dined at the newly opened Supernormal Restaurant on Queen St, later posting a picture of desserts on her Instagram @annastaciamp.
It was the first non-political post she has made since stepping down from government last year and her followers fussed over it, one commenting “she’s back on the IG :)”
Without a media team at her disposal, the first attempt at a foodie post was … not her best work, and she will definitely need to fine tune her Insta skills in the future.
It was refreshing to finally see a non-political pic on her socials.
The first post she made since December 10, 2023 when she announced her resignation, was technically five days ago spruiking the Smart Energy Council conference this week, where she refused to endorse Premier Steven Miles in the upcoming election – yikes.
HEMSWORTH’S PERSONAL TRAINER SETS UP ON GC
Personal trainer to the stars and Bra Boy surf gang member John Gannon has set up shop on the Gold Coast, putting locals throughtheir paces in gruelling beach workouts.
Gannon, who has trained the likes of Chris Hemsworth, international DJ Paul “The Fish” Fisher and pro surfers including Taj Burrow, has been running workout sessions including one that involves swinging sledgehammers.
He’s about to launch the latest incarnation of his national online training program called the Big8challenge which involves community “chapters” coming together around Australia to work out over an eight-week block.
SURPRISE CELEBRITIES AT FASHION FESTIVAL
The Brisbane Fashion Festival took on a golden hue this week as Olympic champions and celebrities alike graced the catwalk and front rows.
Tuesday night’s W BRISBANE Fashion Show was the talk of the town, as 10 of Australia’s top swimmers swapped the pool for the catwalk to showcase Gina Rinehart’s latest Driza-Bone collection, with several sporting the now-iconic gold swimsuits. But it wasn’t just the athletes on the catwalk that stole the show.
In the front row, a contingent of Olympians, including Lizzy Dekkers, Kaylee McKeown, Mollie O’Callaghan, Ella Ramsay, and Lani Pallister, were seen proudly waving Australian flags, cheering on their fellow athletes as they made their fashion debut.
Pallister also couldn’t resist the allure of the runway, taking a spontaneous spin on the catwalk in a stunning ensemble from Samantha Ogilvie Boutique, where she looked every bit the part of a professional model.
Adding to the evening’s celebrity quotient, I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! host Julia Morris was seen chatting with guests at the VIP Runway Lounge before making her own appearance on the catwalk in a piece from Kristian Williams The Brand’s Resort ’24 collection.
Actor David Wenham also made an unexpected appearance, much to the delight of attendees, marking his return to the festival after his last visit in 2022.
The Project’s Sarah Harris flew in from Sydney to take on the role of MC for the night. Seated alongside Channel 10’s newest 5pm bulletin presenter, Sharyn Ghidella, Harris shared the spotlight with Brisbane’s Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and Lady Mayoress Nina Schrinner.
Brisbane’s arts power couple, singer Luke Kennedy and his wife Naomi Price – who are regular attendees at the event – were spotted sitting directly behind the Schrinners.
While local radio stars, Triple M’s Margaux Parker and KIIS 97.3’s Robin Bailey, both made a stylish statement in the front row.
ADAM HYDE SPOTTED IN CHEEKY UNDIES AT NOOSA BEACH
Aussie musician Adam Hyde and his TV host girlfriend Abbie Chatfield were spotted enjoying the unseasonably warm weather at Noosa Heads beach on Thursday.
The couple, who have been busy with their respective careers, took some time out to relax in the sun, much to the delight of fans who recognised them.
Hyde, known for his cheeky style, was seen standing around in nothing but a pair of Calvin Klein undies, drawing plenty of admiration from beachgoers who clearly enjoyed the unexpected display.
The pair, who have been navigating hectic schedules — Hyde recently wrapped up a national tour with Peking Duk, and Chatfield just finished the press tour for her hit reality dating show Fboy Island — seemed to be relishing their downtime in Queensland.
Their beach holiday wasn’t complete without a little retail therapy.
The couple made a quick stop at some local hotspots, including Eumundi Meats, where they picked up a bag of snags.
Hyde’s visit to Queensland is a return trip, as he was in the Sunshine State just three weeks ago, performing a sellout show at Brisbane’s Eclipse nightclub with his Peking Duk bandmate. The duo’s performance was a hit, and now, it seems, Hyde is making the most of his time back in Queensland with Chatfield by his side.
CHEF JEREMIAH JONES DESIGNS NEW NOOSA RESTAURANT
He’s known for his cooking skills as the chef/co-owner of hugely popular Noosa restaurant Sum Yung Guys, but Jeremiah Jonesharbours a secret passion for interior design.
The kitchen whiz has been swapping his pans for paint swatches creating the team’s new eatery Peli’s at Noosa Marina in Tewantin.
A sibling to Sum Yung Guys, the Mediterranean restaurant will open on September 12, with much of the fit-out designed by Jones.
“I would go to bed at 9.30pm and scroll on my phone until 1.30am picking light fittings or furniture,” he said, revealinghe also designed much of SYG.
“I love the design aspect.”
His skills don’t end there, though, with him also admitting to making outdoor lounges and tables for Peli’s in his shed athome.
“We’re just using the tiles from inside (the restaurant) – the pink travertine – because they’re a good size and I’ve beenturning those into coffee tables for out the front for people to put a drink on. It’s a real passion project,” he said.
DEBBIE KILROY PORTRAIT WINS TOP QUEENSLAND ART PRIZE
Former convict turned celebrated criminal and human rights lawyer Debbie Kilroy is the subject of a new painting that has won Queensland’s richest student portraiture prize.
Kilroy became the first person with serious criminal convictions allowed to practise law in Queensland after being jailedfor drug trafficking in the late 1980s. She went on to establish Sisters Inside, a support service for female prisoners and their children.
Kilroy sat for a portrait by Queensland College of Art & Design student Anna Weston, which took out the 2024 Behlau Murakami Grant Contemporary Issues Portraiture Art Prize recently.
Entrants had to submit portraits of Queenslanders who provide pro bono (free of charge) assistance to people in need.
The $7000 award is sponsored by Gold Coast lawyers Ron Behlau, Jason Murakami and Shane Grant who have a dedicated pro bonodivision. Murakami is himself a talented artist and his paintings decorate the firm’s Southport office.
GOLD COAST PICKLEBALL LAWSUIT HEADS TO MEDIATION
A pickleball feud that went from the playing court to the law courts is headed to mediation after months of legal serves and volleys.
Gold Coast auctioneer and pickleball fanatic Phil Black lobbed a Supreme Court lawsuit on some of the booming sport’s officials late last year after he was allegedly kicked out of his local club and banned from playing.
His initial claim against the Gold Coast Pickleball Association and Pickleball Association of Queensland alleged he was the victim of “false witness, bullying, lying, extortion, harassment, conflicts of interest (and) denial of natural justice andprocedural fairness” and demanded his reinstatement and a public apology.
But the claim, which the pickleball associations are vigorously defending, was struck out in April after the judge deemedit deficient on grounds including that the court had no power to order an apology.
Mr Black has since lodged two amended statements of claim, the latest this month.
It called for a declaration that his termination from Gold Coast Pickleball was invalid and that there were no grounds tohold an expulsion meeting, “let alone expel him”.
He also sought orders that Pickleball Queensland cease their action to expel him, and that Pickleball Australia investigatehis “complaints and evidence”.
The warring parties have now been ordered into mediation, with a review set down for October.
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