Rear Window
Power players rally for Sinner comeback
Myriam RobinRear Window editorNo prestige social event is complete without an iconic couple making a high-profile public showing.
The Australian Open Men’s Final delivered in this (and so much more), thanks to the attendance of one Francesca Packer and her fiancé Robert Bates.
She, of course, is heiress to a $2 billion chunk of the Packer fortune, while he invented water for pregnant women. To begin with.
Aquamamma founder and former Young Rich Lister Bates is, of course, more recently known for his enemies. Dotted throughout Sydney’s wealthy eastern suburbs, they claim to have given him money for shares in a company that were never actually issued, a scandal over which some are now pursuing Bates in court.
The allegations though do not appear to have shaken his alliance with what is arguably Sydney’s first family. For example, in November, he and Packer’s mother, Gretel, were part of a group to attend a Balinese health retreat, and we’ve already noted his addition to the Packer polo set.
Front row: Vanessa Hudson with husband Henry. Middle row: Emirates Sir Tim Clark with actors Rachel Griffiths and Andrew Taylor. Back row: Francesca Packer with Robert Bates. Jesse Marlow
On Sunday evening, the couple were guests of major tennis sponsor Emirates, which seated them on the south-eastern corner of the court, where they watched Jannik Sinner’s spirited victory over Daniil Medvedev in five sets. And in a crowd this full of notables, they were almost low-key.
Filling out the Emirates list (hosted by president Sir Tim Clark as well as Australasian head Barry Brown) were the likes of Sky News chief Paul Whittaker, for the second night a guest of the airline and seated next to Flight Centre founder Graham “Skroo” Turner, across from actor Rachel Griffiths. And there was no missing Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson, seated as she was smack bang in the front row for the second night enjoying the tennis with husband Henry.
Francesca Packer and her partner Robert Bates (left). Jesse Marlow
In a cost-of-living crisis where most would never dream of forking out a minimum $2000 to attend the men’s final, the prime minister’s presence was far from assured. But as we’ve learnt, from his membership of the Royal Sydney Golf Club to Qantas’ Chairman’s Lounge (the latter which he also extended to his son), Anthony Albanese is fond of a freebie.
He was seated in pride of place next to Tennis Australia chairwoman Jayne Hrdlicka, thus beginning his nationwide tour to sell his rejigging of the stage three tax cuts by spending some time with those most (negatively) affected. Go figure: he got booed. He was, in any case, cheering for Sinner, so he must have had a decent night.
Tanarra Capital’s John Wylie and wife Myriam Boisbouvier sat directly behind, next to actor Eric Bana, not far from Labor politicos Mark Butler and Don Farrell.
Margaret Gardner, Jodie Haydon, Anthony Albanese, Jayne Hrdlicka and Rod Laver at the Men’s Final. Jesse Marlow
Further up in the same section sat a gaggle of Goldman Sachs operatives. Australian chairman Josh Frydenberg (who recently ruled out another run at his old seat of Kooyong) was seated with wife Amie, not far from Goldies operative Zac Fletcher, while in the row below, rainmaker Nick Sims caught up with Transurban chairman Craig Drummond (Goldies’ equities head Mario Argyrides opted for a less conspicuous seat a few rows away).
To their right, in billionaires’ corner, trucking tycoon Lindsay Fox took in proceedings with his grandson Harry, in a row that also included Optus chairman Paul O’Sullivan and Seven scion Ryan Stokes.
Top row: Anita Pahor, Larry Kestelman, David Di Pilla, Brendan Gale. Bottom right: ANZ risk chief Kevin Corbally. Jesse Marlow
One row behind, ANZ’s institutional boss Mark Whelan caught up with hospitality empire builder Justin Hemmes, just behind Melbourne luxury developer/biohacking enthusiast Tim Gurner. Behind them, Chemist Warehouse kingmaker David Di Pilla sat between developer Larry Kestelman and Richmond Football Club chief Brendon Gale.
Further up sat Martin Pakula (lately of the Australian Grand Prix), near Liberal powerbroker Michael Kroger.
Back row: Aimee and Tim Gurner. Middle row: ANZ’s Mark Whelan, Justin Hemmes and Madeline Holtznagel. Bottom row: Paul O’Sullivan, Ryan and Claire Stokes. Jesse Marlow
Ruslan Kogan and wife Anastasia had their own front-row corner seats, and not far away was Crown Melbourne chairman Ian Silk.
Over the other side of the players’ entrance, the investment bankers made their presence felt.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s Joe Fayyad (white shirt) sat between Alumina’s Mike Ferraro and Brookfield’s Len Chersky. Jesse Marlow
Bank of America’s Joe Fayyad sat between Brookfield’s Len Chersky and Alumina’s Mike Ferraro, in a CEO delegation that also included Treasury Wines’ Tim Ford, AGL’s Damien Nicks, Megaport’s Bevan Slattery, South32’s Graham Kerr and TPG Telecom’s Iñaki Berroeta.
Immediately next to this group sat the UBS operatives, country co-head Anthony Sweetman hosted BHP’s Mike Henry and Johan van Jaarsveld. Immediately behind sat Bank of Queensland chairman Warwick Negus with Ramsay Health Care’s Craig McNally. Also in the UBS section were BGH Capital’s Ben Gray and state politician wife Luba Grigorovitch, and further up, NextDC’s Craig Scroggie, in aviators (naturally).
Public Hospitality Group’s Jon Adgemis and Megan MacKenzie. Jesse Marlow
Behind the UBS grouping: Public Hospitality Group’s Jon Adgemis, taking a night off from wrangling that business’ hefty debt burden.
Chairman Peter Costello and CEO Mike Sneesby took their customary spots in the front row in the Nine Entertainment seats, while just behind them, Eddie McGuire chatted to ex-Telstra chief Andy Penn. Nine deputy chairwoman Catherine West took the third row, next to the channel’s Melbourne newsreader Tom Steinfort.
Jacquie Blackwell, Paul Howes and Olivia Wirth. Jesse Marlow
Elsewhere, outgoing Qantas executive Olivia Wirth watched the tennis with husband and KPMG dealmaker Paul Howes, seated next to Total Tools’ Richard Murray and wife Jacquie Blackwell.
In the court-side VIP seats: Elle Macpherson sat next to actor Joel Edgerton with partner (and Vogue editor-in-chief) Christine Centenera. And in his private suite, steel magnate Sanjeev Gupta and wife Nicola hosted ex-Fortescue boss Nev Power, AMP board member Andrea Slattery, trade publisher (and federal Labor whisperer) Colin Tate, and high-profile Sydney socialite Ellie Aitken.
There was no sign of his once-inseparable financier Lex Greensill, of the collapsed Greensill Capital. Though we’re sure he would be welcome: this set is a forgiving one. Just ask Robert Bates.
Front row: BHP chief development officer Johan van Jaarsveld, BHP CEO Mike Henry, UBS’ Anthony Sweetman. Second row: BoQ chairman Warwick Negus, Ramsay Health Care CEO Craig McNally. Jesse Marlow
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