POSTCODE 3000

YOU never know where you'll find some helpful advice about myki. A woman was hovering around State Parliament recently and asked a friendly looking chap about the card that has been riddled with problems: late and over budget. The chap was Transport Minister Martin Pakula. He explained the touch-on and touch-off process and said she could top up the card at a train station or online. A witness was impressed with Pakula's knowledge: "Should get him in as a customer service rep." The minister occasionally stays in touch with the common man and woman by taking public transport and, being the approachable chap that he is, he answers questions. If he was after personalised number plates for his ministerial limo, one key slogan is taken. A sleek black car has been spotted with "MYKI" plates. No need to get squished on a train, tram or bus if you can cruise around in comfort.

Chef's latest creation

CONGRATULATIONS to chef Shannon Bennett and partner Madeleine West on the arrival on Sunday of their third child, a girl. The couple already has a boy and girl, Phoenix and Hendrix, so it's a guessing game if their sister will also have the X-factor when she's named. It was a tense time for Shannon because Madeleine gave birth in the morning and he had to catch a flight at noon to cook at Hamilton Island's race week. He missed his flight and had to take five connecting flights, making it just in time before sunset and the airport curfew. Shannon cooked up his usual magic, saying: "It was an adventure." An X-citing day for the new parents.

Milling at rumour mill

DERRYN Hinch is trademarking the term "Human Headline" and doesn't like other big mouths being described as such, but sacked Bulldog Jason Akermanis has grunt. Now, it is claimed, he has named AFL players who take drugs or are gay. Aka has a spot on ratings-challenged MTR from 7am, going up against 3AW's Rumour File with Ross and John. When Aka was reminded about his competition at the station's launch, he scoffed: "Who cares about rumours?" It was rumoured that Aka would out players, possibly in his book. Loads of people care about rumours because in the latest ratings, when Aka was yapping after 7am, MTR rated 1.2. Ross and John rated 20.8. It's not a rumour it's fact.

Dick keeps abreast

LILLIAN Frank Lil to her friends has been raising dollars for the Royal Children's Hospital Foundation for longer than she can remember. Yesterday's L'Oreal fashion parade at Crown, hosted by the ebullient Ann Peacock, went wonderfully, apart for the model who lost her shoes and nearly her dress. For Lil's hubby Richard, it was his first time at the lunch. "She talked me into it," he said. That Lil is a good talker. Richard was entranced by the models and the breasts. That's the chicken breasts for the main course with sweet potatoes and corn salsa. "I asked for the right breast," he said. Why? "I'm left-handed."