POSTCODE 3000

LABOR'S man in Melbourne Ports, Michael Danby, is a friend of the gay community and he championed that bond in a full-page ad in the Star Observer. The MP is pictured under a rainbow umbrella with dazzling diva Vivian St James but those close to her know she died in March 2009 after battling a brain tumour. When Danby was confronted with that fact at a political forum held by Locals into Victorian Environment, he turned redder than Vivian's lipstick and profusely apologised because he didn't know she had died. Some friend. The snap was taken when Danby and Vivian launched the Rainbow Awards in 2003. At this year's ALSO Awards, Vivian received the "Posthumous Community Recognition Award", the word "posthumous" meaning "after death". In Danby's ad, Vivian isn't named but a friend says although it's in bad taste, she would be chuffed that the snap was still being used. The small print says the government paid for the ad but that is an error. Danby's campaign fund covered the cost, so taxpayers can relax.

Are you on the list?

TONIGHT'S launch of the new David Jones store is A-list meets I-list, the "I" representing Melbourne's 300 most-influential people. Several social butterflies will be twiddling their thumbs after missing out on an invitation and here's what they'll miss: models Megan Gale, Abby Lee Kershaw, Nicole Trunfio and Alexandra Agoston. Chef Shannon Bennett is whipping up the canapes and Stefano de Pieri is in charge of desserts. Despite what was reported in Eddie McGuire's column in the Sunday Herald Sun, he is not hosting the soiree. That honour belongs to DJs chairman Robert Savage, with chief executive Paul Zahra also taking centre stage. The drop of choice is Veuve Clicquot, and after a trying few months over the Mark McInnes sex scandal, everyone will toast to a happier future.

It was ultra-memorable

IT LOOKED like myki revisited when Education Minister Bronwyn Pike launched the Ultranet, the $77 million information system on Monday. There were a few glitches, like principals and teachers not being able to log on. It's hard to forget the image of Lynne Kosky and the myki machine that fell apart. No expense was spared at the "Big Day Out" for principals at Jeff's Shed, especially the bus decorated in decals and slogans that transported the minister, bureaucrats and guests into the auditorium. Surely such a magnificent bus can be rolled out again. One suggestion is for a Partridge Family-style people mover for John Brumby's team during the election. C'mon, get happy about Ultranet and myki.

Long live Valda

KEW real estate agent Valda Walsh, a doyen of buying, selling and chatting, was inundated with calls when death notices announced someone with the same name passed away. Valda's motto is "Ask Valda she knows", so there's no doubt that she's alive and chatting. When the day comes, Valda wants to go out in style, saying: "I'm going to have a big wake."