Welcome to The Group Chat with Lucy Manly, where one of Australia’s most plugged-in society insiders delivers the gossip before it reaches the headlines.
Arthur’s social comeback
Eastern suburbs lightning rod Arthur Tzaneros recently made the three-hour journey to Glengarry, Scots College’s pristine Kangaroo Valley campus, for the school’s Year 9 parents’ weekend.
Judging by the broad smile on his face, the father of three appeared to be thoroughly enjoying himself.
Arthur was pictured beaming in a photograph shared by another parent during the weekend retreat. His appearance at the Scots gathering is notable — and the reason will soon become apparent.
For anyone unfamiliar with the saga, the Tzaneros family has been a constant topic of conversation in Sydney’s east since private credit lender ScotPac moved to place their Port Botany-based shipping business, ACFS Port Logistics, into administration.
Maude Tzaneros attended a Melbourne Cup event at The Royal Paddington on Tuesday
Arthur Tzaneros travelled to Glengarry, Scots College’s Kangaroo Valley campus, for the school’s Year 9 parents’ weekend
As the company’s financial difficulties intensified, Arthur stepped down as ACFS chief executive after leaked WhatsApp messages appeared to minimise serious sexual assault allegations involving three current Scots College students.
In August, Tzaneros joined a private Scots old boys’ group and shared his views on the case, describing the alleged 14-year-old female victim as a “willing participant”.
He subsequently deleted the messages, apologised and resigned from his role.
The controversy erupted at an especially difficult time, with his family also fighting to preserve its business empire. Yet it seems that neither a corporate crisis nor a very public reputational blow has kept Arthur away from gatherings connected to his beloved alma mater, where I’m told he may now be “back in from the cold”.
The development comes as his father, Terry Tzaneros, quietly placed a second mortgage on the title of his $38 million Point Piper mansion, purchased five years ago.
The mortgage secures $4.365 million in short-term funding, although Terry has not revealed how the money is being used.
The loan was arranged through his company, Sir Randwick Pty Ltd, with Terry and his wife Anne personally guaranteeing the debt.
It also comes at a steep price. The three-month facility carries interest of up to 8.85 per cent — equivalent to an eye-watering annualised rate of as much as 35 per cent.
Maude Tzaneros is reportedly back on social media, although she has yet to post images from her months spent at the family estate
It appears Maude’s period away from the social scene may be coming to an end
Meanwhile, Arthur’s wife Maude was spotted on Tuesday at a Melbourne Cup Day celebration at The Royal Paddington.
It was an unusual public appearance, given that Maude and other members of the family have maintained a notably low profile during the collapse of Port Logistics. The family was reportedly advised by crisis public relations consultants that flaunting personal wealth would not be well received.
Now, however, their period of social hibernation appears to be ending.
I’m told Maude has returned to social media, though she has not yet shared photographs documenting the months she spent tucked away at the family estate.
Perhaps the next chapter calls for a dedicated photo album?
A billionaire family baby announcement
Model-turned-chef Sophie Dalah has revealed she is expecting her first child — with the baby’s father connected to one of Australia’s richest families.
Model-turned-chef Sophie Dalah has announced she is expecting her first child
Sophie is 18 weeks pregnant with her first child with Ariel Triguboff Hendler, grandson of billionaire property magnate Harry Triguboff
The Kambala alumna and founder of Los Angeles catering company Sophie’s Table is 18 weeks pregnant. The father is Ariel Triguboff Hendler, grandson of billionaire property developer Harry Triguboff, Australia’s second-richest person.
Ariel serves as Meriton’s director of asset management. He is the son of Triguboff’s daughter Sharon Hendler and clothing executive Gary Hendler.
But the pregnancy announcement comes with an intriguing backstory.
The couple’s relationship, first reported in The Group Chat in June, began less than a year after Sophie married musician Noah Gersh in an extravagant ceremony in August 2025.
The rocker has largely disappeared from Sophie’s recent social media, while he was recently sharing posts from Italy as Sophie appeared to be elsewhere in the world.
A source close to the pair confirmed that Sophie and Noah’s marriage has ended, with the relationship said to have deteriorated not long after the wedding. The precise circumstances remain unknown.
I approached both parties for comment, but was promptly blocked on social media. Fortunately, the eastern suburbs grapevine remains in excellent working order.
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Sophie and Ariel, meanwhile, have wasted no time embracing the luxury lifestyle, recently taking a romantic break at the ultra-exclusive One&Only Moonlight Basin in Big Sky, Montana.
Sophie and Ariel recently stayed at the ultra-luxurious One&Only Moonlight Basin in Big Sky, Montana
The pregnancy announcement carries an intriguing backstory
Accommodation at the exclusive resort can cost almost $2,000 a night, although I doubt the pair were scrutinising the minibar charges.
Ariel paid $15.7 million in cash for an unrenovated Watsons Bay property last year.
Sophie, meanwhile, comes from considerable wealth and has plenty of social connections of her own.
Her parents, Michael and Michelle Dalah, are among Sydney’s best-known property figures. They are also considered some of Australia’s largest private landowners, having spent decades building an expansive commercial and residential portfolio.
The Dalah family’s influence extends far beyond property.
Sophie’s brother Jordan is an established fashion designer whose work is frequently worn by supermodel Georgia Fowler, the wife of his twin brother Nathan, co-founder of the upmarket salad chain Fishbowl — now, somewhat confusingly, known as “Thisbowl”.
Naturally, even the most prominent Sydney families attract their share of headlines.
Sophie’s eldest sibling, Elisha Dalah, was named in court proceedings last year after it emerged she was present during former television personality Andrew O’Keefe’s heroin overdose. She administered Narcan and performed CPR before paramedics arrived.
Elisha had previously been banned from Westfield Bondi Junction after a shoplifting incident.
Double Bay has a new socialite on the way
And while we’re on the subject of baby news, another eastern suburbs favourite is also expecting. Claudia Bursill, better known as Miss Double Bay, is pregnant.
The woman famous for poking fun at eastern suburbs culture has become a local favourite thanks to her razor-sharp memes and deadpan humour. She was recently spotted with a baby bump at a wedding.
Congratulations, Claudia.
Another eastern suburbs favourite is expecting, with Claudia Bursill — better known as Miss Double Bay — spotted with a baby bump
“You like?” Lamborghini hits the market
The Lamborghini behind one of Australia’s most enduring memes is looking for a new owner — and its listing appears to offer a knowing nod to the infamous “You like?” moment.
The canary-yellow Lamborghini Urus gifted by property developer Jean Nassif to his then-wife Nissy on Valentine’s Day in 2021 has been listed by Luxe Motor Group for $369,999.
Yes, this is reportedly that Lamborghini.
The Lamborghini Jean Nassif (left) famously gave his then-wife Nissy (right) is now for sale
Luxe Motor Group has priced the Lamborghini Urus at $369,999 and appears to have referenced the viral video in its marketing
The $480,000 luxury SUV became an unlikely online sensation after Jean filmed the extravagant unveiling for Nissy, calling it “the beast” before delivering the now-famous question: “You like?”
The combination of his delivery, her reaction and the theatrical presentation sent the video viral, transforming the couple into social media fixtures.
Since then, the Nassifs have remained regular subjects of headlines — though rarely because of luxury vehicles or celebratory family milestones.
The couple’s dramatic fall from the high life has been widely documented. Jean’s property empire collapsed amid financial problems and investigations, while the Lamborghini itself was previously reported to have been repossessed.
Now, the bright-yellow “beast” appears to have returned to the used-car market.
Luxe Motor Group is asking $369,999 for the Lamborghini Urus and seemingly couldn’t resist referencing the video that made it famous.
The Nassifs have continued to attract headlines, though rarely for luxury cars or happy family occasions
The dealership briefly uploaded a social media video parodying the original “You like?” skit before removing it. Naturally, not before I secured a screen recording.
The seller clearly understands the vehicle’s appeal — and its biggest selling point may be its place in Australian meme culture rather than its horsepower.
Few used Lamborghinis come with their own viral catchphrase.
And somewhere in Lebanon, where the disgraced Toplace developer has reportedly fled amid financial crime allegations in Australia, he may still be asking: “You like?”