Renouf row focuses on food supply

Press, 29 January 1988, Page 4

Renouf row focuses on food supply

By

ROBERT LOWE

NZPA Sydney The public split between the financier, Sir Francis Renouf, and his socialite wife, Susan, reached even greater heights of exposure yesterday, with Sir Francis inviting journalists on to his Sydney harbourside property, Paradis sur Mer.

He told them that his wife, who was refusing his requests to leave the residence, was making his life intolerable.

Lady Renouf — who on Wednesday evening had shopping bags delivered containing meat, vegetables, cereals, crackers, Vegemite and items described as "full female hygiene comforts” — told a breakfast television show that she had no food or provisions. She told a television interviewer that she was afraid of leaving in case she was locked out. She said her husband was preventing her from having visitors. "All the phones have been cut off. They have been taken out of their sockets. I have no food, I

have no provisions, I have nothing.” Reporters, photographers and television crews laid siege to the property at dawn yesterday and even cruise boats carrying tourists on Sydney harbour slowed down as they passed the area. Security guards, two hired by Sir Francis and one by Lady Renouf, stood outside the gates. However, at one stage, Sir Francis greeted the news media with a smile and then allowed them inside for 40 minutes to watch him play tennis and to take them through the kitchens to show them the food available. He said his security guards were not installed to impede his wife’s movements, but were a precaution against in-

traders. “It is a fantasy that I am starving her.” Asked by one reporter if he wanted Lady Renouf to leave, he said: “Of course, dear ... she ought to go. She’s very happy down at Mittagong.” The Renoufs have a country house at the New South Wales town and Lady Renouf had been staying there after the marriage break-down became public last month. “She doesn’t want to go. She wants to make my life intolerable,” Sir Francis said. "I have to give up every single business operation just to be here. “I was meant to be at a board meeting in Wellington today — how do you think I feel about that?”