Australia’s culture and entertainment gossip cycle pivoted on a corporate drama this week as Anthony Heraghty was abruptly dismissed as chief executive of Super Retail Group, the ASX-listed parent of Rebel Sport, Supercheap Auto, BCF and Macpac. The company said new information had emerged that made Heraghty’s prior disclosures regarding an alleged relationship with the retailer’s former head of human resources, Jane Kelly, unsatisfactory.
The departure comes amid a separate boardroom dispute in which former senior counsel Rebecca Farrell and colleague Amelia Berczelly allege they were bullied after whistleblower complaints related to the affair. Super Retail Group said it stood by Heraghty for 18 months before the termination.
Property records show Heraghty sold about A$2.7 million worth of shares to effect Family Court orders. His ex-wife, Genevieve Heraghty, has reverted to her maiden name, Genevieve Bowman, and remains the registered owner of the couple’s Brisbane home, which appears fully paid off as of September 3. The divorce comes as the public square continues to scrutinize the couple’s finances and the estate he leaves behind.
Clara Hurst, founder of the prescription skincare brand The Secret and widow of late Perth dentist Dr David Hurst, has again spent extended time overseas after a recent sighting in Perth. The couple’s death last December at Crown Perth sparked questions about the practice, Perth Dental Rooms, and patient complaints that some alleged upgrades or procedures were either botched or incomplete. Clara Hurst has said she acted as executor and is working with professionals to wind up the estate and recover value for patients, while expressing sympathy for those left untreated.
In Melbourne, the LaManna family behind LaManna & Sons publicly named a man they alleged had been stalking them for years. The post, which included a photo of the alleged stalker and an image of a damaged vehicle, has since been deleted. The family says the matter is now with police and that the man has not been named publicly by the family.
Taken together, the items illustrate how private disputes among high-profile individuals and family businesses can quickly enter public view through social media and press coverage, shaping Australia’s culture and entertainment discourse in real time.