A look at the society drama at Pilates queen Bernadette Sukkar’s ‘Y2K’ birthday party, attended by Deb O’Neil, Montana McDonald and the beleaguered Tzaneros family

The Tzaneros shipping dynasty has kept a low profile since the collapse of the family-owned ACFS Port Logistics, which owes more than $270 million to more than 60 creditors.

But three prominent members of the family broke cover on Friday, when Anthony Tzaneros and his wife Poppy – from the influential O’Neil family behind real estate development company Addenbrooke – stepped out for ‘Pilates queen’ Bernadette Sukkar’s birthday at Archie Brothers Alexandria.

They were accompanied by Barbara Coombes (née Tzaneros), Anthony’s sister and wife of real estate magnate Michael Coombes.

A year ago, the society trio’s performance at such a party would hardly have raised an eyebrow. But with dark clouds hanging over the family’s container logistics empire and the wealth of key family members once again under scrutiny, Anthony, Poppy and Barbara found themselves in a much brighter spotlight.

ACFS Port Logistics, founded in 2005 by Tzaneros patriarch Terry and his son Arthur, Anthony’s brother, went into voluntary administration and receivership on August 6 with debts of about $60 million to the Australian Taxation Office.

Arthur later stepped down as CEO after private messages he posted in a WhatsApp group about the alleged Scots College gang rape were leaked to the media.

Since then, family members have closed their social media accounts and retreated behind the gates of their multi-million dollar homes.

Behind the scenes, sources tell the Daily Mail that the family has hired crisis communications consultants to help manage its public image, including by diverting attention from the members’ “conspicuous wealth” and lavish lifestyles.

But Poppy, 40, and Anthony, 38, who is IT director for ACFS Port Logistics, appear less committed to the family’s low-profile strategy and continue to show their faces on the Sydney social scene while other family members remain out of sight.

The couple arrived at the Y2K-themed party in honor of ‘Bernie’ turning 36, with the birthday boy partying alongside husband Jordan Sukkar and friends.

Poppy and Anthony were not shy about flaunting their wealth, despite other Tzaneros relatives trying to keep a lower profile as creditors circled the family’s crumbling shipping empire, with the socialite carrying a Mini Kelly Hermes handbag worth $29,100.

She donned a Noughties-style Manuba Print shirt from Pucci, which retails for $1,350, and paired it with blue straight-leg jeans.

Poppy accessorized by matching her Mini Kelly with green Amina Muaddi heels, which sell second-hand for around $600, and what appeared to be a Rolex watch.

Meanwhile, Anthony appeared to ignore the dress code in a basic navy blue shirt and blue jeans, although he added a touch of designer flair with $1,520 Gucci sneakers..

Sister Barbara also made a rare public appearance, stepping out in an oversized red shirt emblazoned with ‘Barbie 08’, paired with mini denim shorts and strappy heels.

She stood out from the crowd by styling her blonde locks with big, voluminous curls as she arrived on the scene with a Peter Alexander gift and a Christopher’s Cake Shop box for the birthday girl.

Elsewhere at the event, Bernadette wore a baby blue tracksuit over a cropped white tank top, with blue-tinted Miu Miu sunglasses.

The owner of Bondi’s popular Body by Berner Pilates studio appeared to go barefoot at one point as she posed for photos, carrying a blue Louis Vuitton bag worth $5,694 and a Louis Vuitton x Murakami handbag worth $4,963.

She later changed her outfit, ditching her sweatpants for a pair of Juicy Couture mini shorts and knee-high boots from The Attico.

Other guests in attendance included Bernadette’s husband Jordan Sukkar, the COO of his family’s construction company Buildcorp; PR expert Montarna McDonald of the Audience Agency; stylist to the stars Caroline Tran; fashion designer Michael Lo Sordo; Hayco heiress Louise O’Neil, who is Poppy’s sister-in-law through her marriage to Jake O’Neil; and socialite Kristina Macourt.

Deborah Symond O’Neil, the daughter of Aussie Home Loans founder John Symond and the wife of Poppy’s other brother Ned O’Neil, also appeared at the meeting, after Poppy was recently spotted discreetly arriving at her home amid the collapse of shipping company Tzaneros.

Poppy, the daughter of Rose Bay Marina owner Denis O’Neil, was once known for her demure appearance before her marriage to Anthony.

However, since marrying into the Tzaneros family, she has embraced a much more glamorous lifestyle and is now a fixture on the elite social circuit.

The couple’s wedding was anything but subdued, with a lavish Met Gala-themed party.

Their real estate portfolio has also expanded, with Poppy and Anthony spending $25 million on a home in Bellevue Hill.

But now the family’s lifestyle is being overshadowed by a different kind of press coverage.

ACFS Port Logistics, founded by Tzaneros patriarch Terry and son Arthur in 2005, went into voluntary administration and receivership on August 6.

The company is believed to owe almost $60 million to the ATO, with its assets now potentially facing a forced sale.

The financial crisis has developed alongside the controversy surrounding Arthur, who resigned as CEO after messages he allegedly sent in a WhatsApp group about an alleged sexual assault involving three Scots College students came to light.

The texts, shared in an Old Boys chat with more than 100 former Scots College students, sought to downplay an ongoing rape investigation that has rocked the prestigious eastern suburbs school, where year 12 fees are more than $50,000 a year.

Arthur is said to have messaged the group chat last month: ‘Before anyone jumps to conclusions: this is not a Skaf case.’

His comment appeared to refer to the case of brothers Mohammed and Bilal Skaf, a pair of serial rapists who attacked several women and girls in Sydney in the year 2000.

Arthur suggested the alleged 14-year-old victim was a “willing participant” and described the three suspects as “dead***s,” the SMH reported.

His comments caused widespread outrage, with Arthur later apologizing and expressing hope that his dismissal would separate the company from his actions.

For a family accustomed to Sydney’s social pages, the past few weeks have been nothing short of a PR disaster, with most Tzaneros women appearing to maintain a much lower profile as the fallout continues.

Sisters Barbara and Maree, the latter of whom is married to Andrews Meat heir Peter Andrews, have set their Instagram accounts to private and Maree has not uploaded a post since July.

Similarly, sister-in-law Steffanie has also set her social accounts to private.

In contrast, Poppy has kept her social media public, although she hasn’t posted since June. However, she remains the social butterfly among high society.

Meanwhile, Maude, the wife of controversial former freight boss Arthur, has quietly erased her social media presence and deleted her accounts following her husband’s resignation.

The Daily Mail recently revealed that the mother of two hardly leaves the house.

According to a reliable source, important appointments such as hair and nail treatments are likely to take place at the couple’s expansive mansion.

“If you’re used to regular pampering — weekly blow-drying, biweekly nail appointments — you won’t go cold turkey overnight,” they said.

“I can imagine people coming to her so she doesn’t have to leave the compound.”

It’s not the worst place to lay low, as the $61.5 million Bellevue Hill trophy home features four large bedrooms and a pool, and sits on a whopping 1,338 square feet.

Her sudden disappearance from the social scene is remarkable, as she has long been a familiar face among the city’s ritzy set, throwing lavish parties and mingling with a Who’s Who of high society.