Ash Nader

Home and Away

Company type	Television series
Industry	Television, Entertainment
Founded	January 17, 1988 (1988-01-17)
Headquarters	Australia
Area served	Australia

Home and Away is a long-running Australian soap opera that premiered on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. This compilation highlights characters who were introduced during 2006, all under the guidance of series producer Julie McGuaran. The show's nineteenth season was broadcast from 16 January to 1 December 2006. Significant additions to the cast included Amy Mathews portraying Rachel Armstrong in January, Jessica Tovey as Belle Taylor in February, and Sam North taking on the role of Dom Moran in April. Joining the series as Doctor Hugh Sullivan and Macca MacKenzie were Rodger Corser and Trent Baines, respectively. July introduced viewers to Bobby Morley playing Drew Curtis and Chris Sadrinna as Brad Armstrong, Rachel's brother. In October, Jessica Chapnik arrived as Sam Tolhurst, alongside her son Rory Tolhurst, while the Cooper brothers, Rocco and Johnny, were brought to life by Ian Meadows and Callan Mulvey.

Rachel Armstrong

Rachel Armstrong, enacted by Amy Mathews, made her first appearance on 16 January 2006. Mathews departed from the series in 2010 to explore other career opportunities, resulting in the exit of both Rachel and her on-screen spouse Tony Holden. Rachel’s character is depicted as possessing keen intuition, a resilient intellect, strong independence, and solid principles, balanced by a romantic disposition. Mathews described Rachel as sociable, lively, and ethically driven with firm convictions about morality. In recognition of her performance, Mathews secured the Logie Award for "New Female Talent" in 2007 and was also nominated for "Best Actress" and "Best Couple" at the 2007 Inside Soap Awards. One of Rachel’s prominent story arcs involved her being held captive by a cult that compelled her to give birth, a storyline that intensified dramatic tension and captivated audiences.

Belle Taylor

Susan "Belle" Taylor, brought to life by Jessica Tovey, first appeared on 3 February 2006. Her major storylines encompassed uncovering her biological mother, confronting drug addiction, developing a romantic relationship with Aden Jefferies, and facing a cancer diagnosis. Tovey exited the show in 2009, with Belle’s departure airing on 11 August of that year. Joining Home and Away at just 18 years old, this role marked Tovey’s television debut.

RTÉ characterized Belle as a "cheeky, extroverted young girl" whose insecurities were rooted in a "disciplined and controlling" upbringing; she longed for parental affection that was absent during her childhood. Her parents were taken aback by her rejection of their conservative values.

Throughout her tenure, Tovey received several award nods: "Most Popular New Female Talent" at the 2007 Logie Awards, "Most Popular Actress" in 2010, and "Sexiest Female" at the 2007 Inside Soap Awards. In 2009, she earned nominations for "Best Actress" and "Best Storyline" for Belle’s battle with addiction. The wedding between Belle and Aden was recognized with a nomination in the Bride and Doom category at the 2010 All About Soap magazine awards. Additionally, Belle’s funeral episode garnered an Australian Writer's Guild Award nomination in 2010.

Virgin Media listed Belle and Aden among "Soaps' sexiest couples," while fans voted them as "Home and Away's Hottest Couple" in a poll conducted by Holy Soap.

Dom Moran

Dominic "Dom" Moran, played by Sam North, first appeared on 20 April 2006 and made his final appearance on 14 February 2008.

Dom is employed by his uncle Ray (Damien Garvey) at Moran Motors. He initiates hazardous pranks against Ric Dalby (Mark Furze), causing Ric injury twice—once through battery acid and another time with a malfunctioning jack that nearly crushes him. Dom also targets Ric's girlfriend Belle Taylor (Jessica Tovey) with harassment, which leads to her physically retaliating. Subsequently, Ray dismisses Dom, considering him too risky to keep around.

When Dom returns the following year, he provides illicit car parts to Drew Curtis (Bobby Morley) for "The Beast" and becomes involved in the local drag racing circuit alongside the criminal Denni Maitland (Joshua Helman). A race involving Denni results in a fatal accident claiming the life of Lisa Duffy (Jessica McNamee), Lucas Holden's (Rhys Wakefield) former partner. To avoid arrest for stealing parts, Dom steals Drew’s vehicle and sets it on fire but agrees to assist in clearing Drew’s name if Belle agrees to kiss him. After she complies, Dom confesses and is imprisoned.

Following his release, Dom abducts Belle. Drew intervenes and rescues her, injuring Dom during their escape, although Dom disappears afterward. He later visits Belle’s room, leaving behind a ring before departing again. Several weeks later, Dom collapses at the diner; Belle rushes him to the hospital where Drew warns him to stay away. A confrontation leads to emergency surgery; Belle admits her love for him as a means to save his life but later reveals it was a calculated move. During recovery, Dom undergoes rehabilitation with physiotherapist Sam Holden (Jessica Chapnik), who inadvertently encourages his continued pursuit of Belle.

Dom takes up work at the diner and mocks Drew for repeating Year 12. Irene Roberts (Lynne McGranger) and Roman Harris (Conrad Coleby) arrange a job interview for Dom at a city restaurant through Irene’s daughter Finlay (Tina Thomsen) in an effort to separate him from Belle. Dom sabotages this chance and departs for the city, promising he will return for Belle.

Clayton Smales of The Townsville Bulletin criticized North’s portrayal, describing it as a "woeful turn" and characterizing Dom as a "flannel-shirted, sparsely bearded Lothario."

Hugh Sullivan

Hugh Sullivan, enacted by Rodger Corser, was featured from 5 April 2006 until 12 June 2007. In October 2020, Corser was spotted alongside other Home and Away cast members in Coogee, sparking rumors about a possible comeback since Hugh’s character was never killed off.

Hugh arrives in Summer Bay as both a friend and former romantic interest of Rachel Armstrong (Amy Mathews). He asks Leah Patterson-Baker (Ada Nicodemou) out on a date but leaves after she declines. Returning several months later, Hugh develops romantic feelings for Rachel, who is now married to Kim Hyde (Chris Hemsworth). He supports Rachel through her marital troubles and attempts to grow closer to her, eventually sharing a kiss after her separation from Kim.

Following a short relationship with Ingrid Lynch (Leigh Shorten), Hugh acknowledges his emotional unavailability. Rachel confronts him about this, leading them to openly recognize their mutual feelings. Hugh invites Rachel to live with him, and their bond strengthens until he receives a job posting in Johannesburg. He gives Rachel an ultimatum to commit or he will leave; after she hesitates, he departs for South Africa.

Several months later, Hugh reaches out to Rachel—now engaged to Tony Holden (Jon Sivewright)—but she refuses to meet him. An Inside Soap poll showed readers favored Rachel ending up with Hugh over Kim, with Hugh securing 57% of the votes.

Macca MacKenzie

Michael "Macca" MacKenzie, played by Trent Baines, made his first appearance on 7 April 2006 and departed on 23 February 2007.

Macca’s primary narrative revolves around his tumultuous relationship with Cassie Turner (portrayed by Sharni Vinson) and his persistent domestic violence towards her. Baines underscored the storyline’s societal significance, stressing the necessity of support systems for abuse victims and recognizing the intricate nature of abusive conduct without straightforward remedies.

Upon arriving in Summer Bay, Macca is introduced as the brother of Martha MacKenzie and quickly forms a connection with Cassie, assisting her with boxing training. Despite Martha’s apprehensions regarding his past romantic involvements, Macca accepts a courier position and commits to maintaining a long-distance relationship with Cassie. After returning earlier than expected and securing accommodation above the Beachside diner, work-related stress drives him to drug use. Both Ric Dalby and Cassie confront him about this issue; however, his reaction includes escalating abuse towards Cassie, culminating in physical harm motivated by jealousy.

As the violence worsens, Cassie attempts to escape the relationship. Following intervention from Sally Fletcher, Macca turns himself in to law enforcement and seeks assistance. Although barred from attending Martha’s wedding, he contributes to rescuing injured guests during an explosion but sustains injuries himself. Subsequently, he discharges himself from medical care to participate in a search after a helicopter crash, saving Ric from harm before leaving the area.

Several months later, Macca returns claiming completion of counseling. He rekindles an affair with Cassie despite her reconciliation with Ric. This leads to conflict resulting in Macca’s eviction from the caravan park. After briefly staying with Amanda Vale and rejecting her advances, he is offered a desk job in the city by his employer and plans to relocate with Cassie. However, local crises involving Sally and Ric disrupt these plans. When Cassie refuses to leave, Macca resorts once more to violence and ultimately surrenders to the police.

Drew Curtis

Drew Curtis, portrayed by Bobby Morley, appeared from 7 July 2006 until 21 March 2008. Prior to joining Home and Away, Morley had roles in Angels with Dirty Faces and was discovered by casting agents for the show. Although older than the character he played, Morley was cast as Drew. He relocated from Melbourne to Sydney for filming and initially found the rapid pace of production challenging. Morley departed at the close of 2007, later reflecting that he felt like a "meat puppet" due to frequent scenes requiring him to be shirtless.

The official Home and Away website described Drew as "brooding" with a "chip on his shoulder the size of Queensland." Morley’s performance garnered him a nomination for "Most Popular New Male Talent" at the 2007 Logie Awards. Critics often referred to Drew as a "teenage tearaway" and a "bad-boy heart-throb," highlighting his appeal among younger audiences.

Brad Armstrong

Bradley "Brad" Armstrong, played by Chris Sadrinna, first appeared on 11 July 2006 and left on 13 November 2007. Introduced as a support figure for Sally Fletcher (Kate Ritchie) following her husband’s death, Brad’s storyline included coping with personal losses such as his mother Elaine's passing and his wife Emily Vincent's terminal illness. Serving as principal of Summer Bay High, Brad faced challenges including student discipline issues involving Rocco Cooper and disputes with staff member Naomi Preston.

Brad's relationship with Sally deepened after Emily’s death, leading to plans for marriage that Sally ultimately called off. Professionally, Brad experienced temporary suspension due to allegations instigated by Naomi but later proposed to Sally again. His family life became more complex with the discovery of a half-sister named Tamsyn, adding further complications personally and professionally. Eventually, Brad moved to Tasmania accompanied by Heather McCabe and Tamsyn.

Sadrinna received a nomination for Best Newcomer at the 2007 Inside Soap Awards, while he and Ritchie were nominated for Best Couple. The episode depicting Brad’s cancelled wedding earned an Australian Writers Guild award in 2008, and the storyline involving him being lost at sea was nominated for Best Single Episode at the 2008 Digital Spy Soap Awards.

Rocco Cooper

Rocco Cooper, brought to life by Ian Meadows, made his first appearance on 11 October 2006 and departed on 6 February 2007.

Rocco joins Summer Bay High following intervention by Sally Fletcher (Kate Ritchie), who overrules principal Brad Armstrong (Chris Sadrinna)'s reservations about Rocco's history with gangs. Advocating for his rehabilitation, Sally supports his efforts to rebuild trust and later provides him with accommodation upon discovering his precarious living conditions.

His elder sibling, Johnny (Callan Mulvey), exerts pressure on Rocco to remain involved in gang affairs and issues threats. Initially, Rocco assists Johnny by offering an alibi for illicit activities but ultimately betrays him by informing the authorities about a fabricated Credit Union heist. After Johnny's capture, Rocco is forced under duress to assault Sally but spares her life.

Following the assault, Johnny renews his threats against Rocco. When Sally’s foster son, Ric Dalby (Mark Furze), confronts him, Rocco seeks refuge from Johnny. Ric later discovers Rocco brutally beaten; after spending several days in a coma, Rocco succumbs to his injuries. His unmarked funeral is attended solely by Sally, Brad, and a guarded Johnny. Ric is mistakenly imprisoned for Rocco’s murder until Johnny’s culpability comes to light.

The plotline featuring Rocco’s stabbing of Sally earned a nomination for "Best Storyline" at the 2007 Inside Soap Awards.

Sam Holden

Sam Holden, portrayed by Jessica Chapnik, first appeared on 17 October 2006. Chapnik landed the role unexpectedly and departed in 2008 to develop her career in the United States.

Sam was depicted as a troubled individual struggling with self-hatred and misfortune. Chapnik described her character as "doomed to fail," carrying an emotional "weight" that made justifying her choices difficult. Eleven Magazine highlighted Sam as a catalyst for significant upheaval in Summer Bay, while Scott Ellis from the Sun-Herald referred to her as a "murderous psycho."

Johnny Cooper

Johnny Cooper, enacted by Callan Mulvey, debuted on 19 October and left the series on 25 March 2008. Mulvey received nominations for "Best Bad Boy" at the Inside Soap Awards in both 2007 and 2008.

Rory Tolhurst

Rory Holden (originally Deeks, formerly Tolhurst) appeared between 20 October 2006 and 14 April 2008, initially played by Ed Willis before Jack Rickard took over.

Rory is introduced through his mother Sam Holden’s relationship with Jack Holden, who becomes Rory’s stepfather. After Sam is abducted, Rory attempts a rescue but is blocked by Jack's father. Eventually, they leave Summer Bay together. Upon Sam’s ankle injury, Rory returns but soon becomes involved in another crisis when his escaped convict father, Shane Deeks, kidnaps him. Shane dies during a police pursuit; Rory is found unharmed and comes to see Jack as his paternal figure.

An academically gifted student who skips ahead to Year 7, Rory endures bullying until Aden Jefferies intervenes in exchange for Rory’s assistance in manipulating a school election. The scheme is discovered, leading to Rory's detention. During a school excursion, Rory and Annie Campbell become lost but are later found by their classmates.

Rory expresses great joy at Jack and Sam’s engagement but this excitement results in misbehavior such as stealing Jack’s firearm. After conflicts with Martha MacKenzie concerning the wedding, Rory acts out but ultimately fulfills the role of giving his mother away at the ceremony. The family’s harmony deteriorates when Sam suffers an attack by Johnny Cooper; she subsequently relocates Rory to live with her sister Britt Grey. Following Sam’s death weeks later, Rory holds Jack responsible and withdraws during the funeral.

Ed Willis received a Digital Spy Award nomination in 2008 for his performance as Rory.

Others

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Context
24 January–28 February	Rebecca Tate	Janneke Arent	Ex-member of The Believers cult who alerts others to Mumma Rose's schemes. After being abducted, she pretends to comply to aid in rescuing Tasha and Jonah, contacts authorities, then vanishes.
15 February–22 March	Brian Helpman	John Noble	Senior physician at Northern Districts Hospital who harasses Rachel Armstrong, escalating to blackmail concerning her relationship with Kim Hyde; reported to CEO Geoff Olivetti.
22 February–2 March	Judge Gilroy	Elizabeth Gentle	Oversees Alf Stewart’s fraud trial and sentences him to nine months imprisonment following a guilty verdict.
2 March–13 April 2012	James Gibson	Richard Sydenham	Prosecutor handling significant cases including Alf Stewart’s fraud trial, Angelo Rosetta’s settlement, Casey Braxton’s arson hearing, and Sasha Bezmel’s murder proceedings.
2 March–5 July 2009	Geoff Olivetti	Barry Quin	CEO of Northern Districts Hospital managing staff conflicts such as Rachel Armstrong’s harassment claim and malpractice case; suspends Rachel during inquiry.
21–26 April	Robert Armstrong	John Gregg	Estranged father of Rachel and Brad Armstrong; appointed Regional Director of Emergency at the hospital; pressures Rachel for testimony to avoid litigation; secretly fathered daughter Tamsyn from an affair.
21 April–5 November 2007	Ray Moran	Damien Garvey	Owner of Ric Dalby’s garage; initially neglects safety concerns related to nephew Dom Moran; dismisses Dom after accident; later lays off Ric as part of a plan forcing him into illegal fights.
25 April–20 June	Elaine Armstrong	Julie Hudspeth	Mother to Rachel and Brad Armstrong; suffers severe amnesia from a past car crash caused by Robert Armstrong; later dies due to injuries sustained in a gas explosion.
5 May–1 June	Doris McKinnon	Julie Herbert	Elderly woman under Rachel Armstrong’s care; dies from cardiac arrest following accidental morphine overdose administered by grandson Charlie.
5 May–6 June	Charlie McKinnon	Matt Levett	Initially antagonistic but grows close to Rachel and Kim Hyde; displays obsessive tendencies; causes grandmother Doris’s death through morphine overdose; kidnaps Rachel before being hospitalized for psychiatric treatment.
11 May–28 November	Lee Morton	Natasha Lee	Teenage mother impregnated by science teacher Steve Braeburn; gives birth to son Joe, temporarily leaving him in Rachel Armstrong’s custody before reclaiming him.
23 May–20 June	Tracey Thompson	Sarah Enright	Police detective assisting with stalking case; revealed as collaborator with stalker Eve Jacobsen; dies in gas explosion during Jack Holden and Martha MacKenzie’s wedding.
5 June–23 March 2007	Kitty Landsdowne	Geraldine Turner	Amanda Vale’s mother who claims cancer diagnosis; discloses Belle Taylor is Amanda's daughter given up for adoption; silenced with $80,000 over family secrets.
6 June–11 September	Evan Rice	Matthew Starling	Police constable at Yabbie Creek involved in investigations including arson and life-support disputes; blackmailed into framing Drew Curtis; later charged with arson and bribery.
15 June	David Taylor	Mark Pegler	Belle Taylor's adoptive father who extorts Kitty Landsdowne by threatening to expose family secrets; rejected by Belle when offering money.
23 June–17 July	Colin Page	Shane Withington	Helicopter pilot responsible for transporting key characters to burns unit; survives crash that leaves group stranded until rescue arrives.
13–19 July	Steve Braeburn	Sam Lyndon	Science teacher engaged in affair with student Lee Morton resulting in pregnancy; pressures for abortion and arrested after kidnapping attempt thwarted by Tony Holden.
3 August–1 May 2008	Betty Allsop	May Turner	Acquaintance of Colleen Smart participating in community events including Kim Hyde’s aerobics classes and local bowls tournament.
3 August–5 September	Tara O'Neill	Cashelle Dunn	"Gym patron who falsely accuses Kim Hyde of sexual assault seeking attention from her police officer father Gordon O'Neill; allegations disproved leading to apology.

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Context
3 August–27 September	Dean Silverman	Gary Brun	Meets Matilda Hunter at troubled teen camp, develops relationship, faces false arson charges, reveals past relationship with Gareth Westwood before departing.
	Vanessa Covacs	Emma Terracini	Troubled camper exhibiting anger issues who assaults counsellor Mel Harris and attempts suicide, leading to transfer to specialized facility.
18–23 August	Hal Enpace	Leigh Scully	Influences Lucas Holden into rebellious behavior including vandalism causing property damage.
	Lawrence	Uncredited	Associate of Hal Enpace involved in acts of vandalism.
21 August–15 September	Emily Armstrong	Libby Richmond	Brad Armstrong's fiancée diagnosed with leukemia; marries Brad and passes away peacefully soon after.
21 August–5 September	Gordon O'Neill	Andrew Tighe	Local police superintendent involved in false sexual assault claims against Kim Hyde made by his daughter Tara O'Neill.
21 August–10 October	Ella Hunter	Zoe Littler, Indya Bottomsley, Paris Steen, Matina Commes, Toby Wormer, Jack Thompson	Newborn daughter of Tasha and Robbie Hunter, subject to kidnapping attempts due to cult involvement; later relocates to Boston with parents.
	Gareth Westwood	Benjamin Ronczka	Dean Silverman’s partner at troubled teen retreat who reconciles with Dean prior to moving away.
	Grace Carter	Elaine Smith	Ex-wife of Gordon O’Neill and mother of Tara O’Neill who provides evidence regarding Tara’s history of false accusations.
	Dennis Gillen	Danny Adcock	Criminal adversary targeting Peter Baker seeking revenge related to prison murder case; presumed dead after confrontation.
	Ash Nader	Ben Geurens	Police officer and friend of Jack Holden leading a secret double life causing relationship breakdown with Martha MacKenzie.
	Joe Morton	Declan Ransley, Justin Martin, Olivia Barclay, Sayer Long, Rafferty Grierson, Cooper Brittian, Henry Lucas, Marley Cooke	Son of Lee Morton temporarily cared for by Rachel Armstrong; suffers bone cancer and dies amid custody disputes involving Lee and Dane Smith.
Dane Smith	Cody Kaye	Lee Morton’s partner implicated in child abandonment and abuse allegations concerning son Joe Morton, who later succumbs to cancer.
Reverend	Peter Flett	Local priest officiating numerous weddings and funerals including those of Kim Hyde & Rachel Armstrong, Bianca Scott & Vittorio Seca (canceled), Roo Stewart & Harvey Ryan, Dexter Walker & April Scott, as well as Charlotte King’s funeral.
1 December–7 February 2007	Rianna Nader	Lotte St. Claire	Wife of Ash Nader arriving with children Declan and Jess unaware of Ash's secret life; later becomes pregnant again.
	Declan Nader	Jack Concoran	Son of Ash and Rianna Nader.
	Jessica NaderTemplate:Anchor Jessica Nader	Amy Baran	Daughter of Ash and Rianna Nader.

External links

• Cast and characters on the Official AU Home and Away website
• Cast and characters on the Official UK Home and Away website
• Full cast and characters on the Internet Movie Database