Iilysh ready to hit the road and live out singing 'vantasy', as Idol judge keeps promise
Keeping to his promise, Channel 7's reality television show judge Kyle Sandilands has delivered the singer a brand new van.
The seven-seater LDV MIFA People Mover is an upgrade from the newly turned 18-year-old's hatchback, and she was over the moon about the delivery in front of Culcairn Bakery in Victoria on Monday, June 30.
"My boyfriend, John, said that we were going on a trip to the snow and that we had to get up at the crack of dawn and we were leaving as soon as possible," she said.
"Then he told me that he was going to take me to the bakery just to get some coffee and some brekkie before we go.
"And so he took me down to the bakery and we were sitting there for a really long time and I think I got a little bit impatient and was wondering why we were still there, then all of these KIIS FM people came running in and surprised me and Kyle was on the other end of the phone."
From the Sydney studio, Sandilands talked Iilysh through the van fitted with leather seats.
"Promises made, promises delivered, get in your brand new car that is yours as of now," he said.
Retallick said the van had apparently been sitting in Sandiands' driveway "for a really long time" and was extremely thankful, but would still like the radio host to come and eventually also visit her hometown.
She is hoping to use her van for all future gigs and tour around the eastern states, and perhaps venture out west as well.
Life after Australian Idol has been "amazing" for the singer, who will soon be hitting the recording studio to release her first single.
"The song is definitely rock, of course, very modern, and I think that's all the hints I'll give," she said.
She has been enjoying showing her West Australian boyfriend John Van Beek - who also finished in the top 8 in this season's Australian Idol - around the area.
Retallick has her eyes on moving to Melbourne towards the end of the year to delve into the music industry further, but in the meantime has been writing songs, including some with her dad, Ross Retallick.
Retallick will sing at the Albury Winter Glow event on Saturday, August 9.
"It's super fun to have my first gig back after the show," she said.
The 2026 Australian Idol applications are now open, and the singer encouraged anyone thinking about auditioning to do it.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and you won't regret it, no matter what the outcome is," she said.
Australian Idol runner-up Iilysh Retallick will be cruising around the southern Riverina in a new set of wheels.
Keeping to his promise, Channel 7's reality television show judge Kyle Sandilands has delivered the singer a brand new van.
The seven-seater LDV MIFA People Mover is an upgrade from the newly turned 18-year-old's hatchback, and she was over the moon about the delivery in front of Culcairn Bakery in Victoria on Monday, June 30.
"My boyfriend, John, said that we were going on a trip to the snow and that we had to get up at the crack of dawn and we were leaving as soon as possible," she said.
"Then he told me that he was going to take me to the bakery just to get some coffee and some brekkie before we go.
"And so he took me down to the bakery and we were sitting there for a really long time and I think I got a little bit impatient and was wondering why we were still there, then all of these KIIS FM people came running in and surprised me and Kyle was on the other end of the phone."
From the Sydney studio, Sandilands talked Iilysh through the van fitted with leather seats.
"Promises made, promises delivered, get in your brand new car that is yours as of now," he said.
Retallick said the van had apparently been sitting in Sandiands' driveway "for a really long time" and was extremely thankful, but would still like the radio host to come and eventually also visit her hometown.
She is hoping to use her van for all future gigs and tour around the eastern states, and perhaps venture out west as well.
Life after Australian Idol has been "amazing" for the singer, who will soon be hitting the recording studio to release her first single.
"The song is definitely rock, of course, very modern, and I think that's all the hints I'll give," she said.
She has been enjoying showing her West Australian boyfriend John Van Beek - who also finished in the top 8 in this season's Australian Idol - around the area.
Retallick has her eyes on moving to Melbourne towards the end of the year to delve into the music industry further, but in the meantime has been writing songs, including some with her dad, Ross Retallick.
Retallick will sing at the Albury Winter Glow event on Saturday, August 9.
"It's super fun to have my first gig back after the show," she said.
The 2026 Australian Idol applications are now open, and the singer encouraged anyone thinking about auditioning to do it.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and you won't regret it, no matter what the outcome is," she said.
Australian Idol runner-up Iilysh Retallick will be cruising around the southern Riverina in a new set of wheels.
Keeping to his promise, Channel 7's reality television show judge Kyle Sandilands has delivered the singer a brand new van.
The seven-seater LDV MIFA People Mover is an upgrade from the newly turned 18-year-old's hatchback, and she was over the moon about the delivery in front of Culcairn Bakery in Victoria on Monday, June 30.
"My boyfriend, John, said that we were going on a trip to the snow and that we had to get up at the crack of dawn and we were leaving as soon as possible," she said.
"Then he told me that he was going to take me to the bakery just to get some coffee and some brekkie before we go.
"And so he took me down to the bakery and we were sitting there for a really long time and I think I got a little bit impatient and was wondering why we were still there, then all of these KIIS FM people came running in and surprised me and Kyle was on the other end of the phone."
From the Sydney studio, Sandilands talked Iilysh through the van fitted with leather seats.
"Promises made, promises delivered, get in your brand new car that is yours as of now," he said.
Retallick said the van had apparently been sitting in Sandiands' driveway "for a really long time" and was extremely thankful, but would still like the radio host to come and eventually also visit her hometown.
She is hoping to use her van for all future gigs and tour around the eastern states, and perhaps venture out west as well.
Life after Australian Idol has been "amazing" for the singer, who will soon be hitting the recording studio to release her first single.
"The song is definitely rock, of course, very modern, and I think that's all the hints I'll give," she said.
She has been enjoying showing her West Australian boyfriend John Van Beek - who also finished in the top 8 in this season's Australian Idol - around the area.
Retallick has her eyes on moving to Melbourne towards the end of the year to delve into the music industry further, but in the meantime has been writing songs, including some with her dad, Ross Retallick.
Retallick will sing at the Albury Winter Glow event on Saturday, August 9.
"It's super fun to have my first gig back after the show," she said.
The 2026 Australian Idol applications are now open, and the singer encouraged anyone thinking about auditioning to do it.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and you won't regret it, no matter what the outcome is," she said.
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To the side, a cutesy croquette of shredded duck meat made in the image of the Dutch crumbed meatball, bitterballen. Giving Pardoo wagyu oyster blade the low and slow treatment transforms this not especially glamorous cut into a melty paleolithic wonder while its ragu offsider makes a compelling argument for more cooks to slip their customers some (beef) tongue. Could the pumpkin and potato gratin on the menu's sole vego main have been crisper? Possibly. But judging by the endive braised in orange juice served with the duck, team Hearth's barbecuing range is more than just snags and chops. Grilled strawberries rendered fudgy by the hearth prove fruit and fire should catch up more often. A dapper mille-feuille comprising frilly plinths of puff pastry, hazelnut ice cream and native rivermint gel tastes like history's poshest mint Viennetta. 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