Australian socialite (83), once fixture in high society passes way

The Australian community has bid farewell to a figure once a staple in the nation's high society.

The widow of notorious businessman Christopher Skase has passed away at the age of 83.

Her family confirmed her death, which occurred in Melbourne on a quiet Friday afternoon.


Pixie Skase's life was marked by glamour and controversy, a duality perhaps best encapsulated by her daughter Amanda Larkins' heartfelt Instagram post announcing her passing.

'Our beloved beautiful mother Pixie passed away peacefully on Friday afternoon, the 15th of November,' Larkins wrote.


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Pixie Skase, widow of businessman Christopher Skase, was 83 when she passed away in Melbourne. Credit: 7News / Facebook


'We have had no words to express our loss and still don’t. She was greatly loved and left a hole in our hearts. Rest in Peace, Mum.'

The announcement was met with condolences and tributes, reflecting Pixie's impact on those around her.

Pixie Skase became a prominent figure in Melbourne's social circles during the 1980s, when her husband's business empire was at its zenith.


However, the collapse of Christopher Skase's company, Qintex, in the early 1990s marked the beginning of a tumultuous period for the couple.

Christopher Skase declared bankruptcy, and the couple fled to Mallorca, Spain, to escape the fallout.

They faced corporate debts of $1.7 billion and personal debts of $170 million.

The Skases saga became a media sensation, with the Australian public and authorities keenly interested in Christopher Skase's extradition back to Australia to face his creditors and the legal consequences of his business dealings.

However, he died in 2001 from stomach cancer, never having returned to face the music in Australia.


Pixie Skase's return to Melbourne in 2009 was a much quieter affair.

She maintained a low profile, starkly contrasting the high-flying socialite lifestyle she once led.

In October 2018, she auctioned off personal items from her life with Christopher, which some saw as closing a chapter on a bygone era of extravagance and controversy.
Key Takeaways
  • Pixie Skase, widow of disgraced Australian businessman Christopher Skase, has passed away at the age of 83 in Melbourne.
  • Her death was announced on Instagram by her daughter Amanda Larkins, stating Pixie died peacefully on the 15th of November.
  • Pixie Skase was a well-known figure within Melbourne’s social circles during the 1980s and fled to Spain with her husband following the collapse of his company.
  • After Christopher Skase died in 2001, Pixie returned to Melbourne in 2009 and lived a low-key life until her passing, even auctioning personal items in October 2018.
Did the Skase saga impact your perception of business ethics and the high society of the time? How do you view the legacy left behind by figures like Pixie and Christopher Skase? Let us know in the comments below.
 
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