Christopher "Kick" Johnson

Home and Away

Company type	Television series
Industry	Television
Founded	January 17, 1988 (1988-01-17)
Headquarters	Australia
Area served	Australia
Website	7plus.com.au/home-and-away

Home and Away is a long-running Australian soap opera that first aired on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. The characters introduced during 2002 were all introduced under the direction of Series Producer Julie McGuaran. The program's fifteenth season commenced broadcasting on 14 January 2002. Sebastian Elmaloglou joined the cast as Max Sutherland in January, followed by Rhett Giles who appeared as Paris Burnett in April. Deputy Principal Angie Russell, played by Laurie Foell, was introduced in September, with her son Dylan (Brett Hicks-Maitland) arriving in October.

Max Sutherland

Max Sutherland, enacted by Sebastian Elmaloglou, made his debut on 21 January 2002 and remained until 1 September 2004. Prior to this, Elmaloglou had guest roles on series such as GP, but this marked his first steady role. He remarked that Max’s mischievous personality was quite different from his own. Max came to Summer Bay accompanied by his father, Pete (Christopher Mayer), intending to stay with his uncle Rhys (Michael Beckley) and aunt Shelley (Paula Forrest). When Pete fled to Hong Kong due to gambling debts, Max’s residence became permanent.

Although Max initially found it difficult to settle in, he quickly formed a friendship with caravan park resident Colleen Smart (Lyn Collingwood) and frequently found himself at odds with his cousin Kirsty (Christie Hayes) at school. He collaborated with Colleen on authoring a book under the pseudonym "Maxine Peterson," which led to a minor romantic rivalry involving Tamara Simpson (Sophie Luck) and Caitlin (Bree Beadman), both of whom later departed the narrative. Max also developed a bond with confused newcomer Tasha Andrews (Isabel Lucas) and shared an emotional connection with new student Eloise Lennox (Suzanne McEachernn), who was suffering from leukemia. After fulfilling Eloise’s last wishes, she passed away in Max’s arms.

In tribute to Eloise, Max established a memorial inside an abandoned mineshaft, which subsequently collapsed trapping Rhys, Kirsty, and Jade (Kate Garven) inside; all were ultimately rescued. Following Rhys’s divorce from Shelley and remarriage to Beth Hunter (Clarissa House), Max faced challenges dealing with her disruptive twins, Henry (Tobi Atkins) and Matilda (Indiana Evans). Initially antagonistic towards Henry, Max eventually befriended him after a boxing match organized by Principal Barry Hyde (Ivar Kants). Although Max briefly showed interest in Matilda, she rejected his advances. After family conflicts and Rhys reconciling with Shelley, Max felt increasingly alienated and decided to leave Summer Bay for boarding school despite offers from relatives to remain.

Elmaloglou received a nomination for "Best Young Actor" at the 2004 Inside Soap Awards for his portrayal of Max. Channel 5 recognized the 2003 mineshaft collapse episode as one of the program’s standout moments. In 2017, Digital Spy commended the complexity of Max’s story arcs—including romantic entanglements, boxing confrontations, and tragic loss—remarkable considering his under three-year tenure on the show. Nevertheless, some reviewers pointed out that the storyline involving Max and Eloise’s terminal illness echoed previous plots, implying a degree of repetition.

Paris Burnett

Paris Burnett, portrayed by Rhett Giles, made his debut on 29 April 2002 and exited the series on 10 September 2003. Prior to joining this show, Giles had appeared on All Saints, which was also produced by the Seven Network, to which he returned following his time on Home and Away.

Paris arrives in Summer Bay as the new principal of Summer Bay High, stepping in after Donald Fisher is suspended amid a departmental scheme aimed at closing the school. He quickly establishes a rapport with Irene Roberts, though both initially resist acknowledging their mutual attraction. At a gathering where Noah Lawson and Hayley Smith are painting a flat, Paris and Irene bond over shared past experiences, including previous heartbreaks.

With Brett Egan providing evidence of departmental mismanagement, Paris plays a key role in preventing the school's closure. His relationship with Irene grows stronger; however, when Donald is reinstated as principal, Irene opts not to pursue a relationship as Paris prepares to depart. During the 150th anniversary celebrations of Summer Bay held aboard the Mirgini, a storm causes them to be stranded on an island where they share a kiss. After their rescue, they begin dating despite opposition from Irene’s foster son, Nick Smith, who believes Paris is too young for her. Paris later receives a job offer in Orange but returns briefly to say goodbye to Irene.

Several months later, Paris returns to take over from the retired Donald Fisher. Angie Russell is displeased by this appointment as she had anticipated receiving the promotion herself. Paris endeavors to rebuild his relationship with Irene and moves into the Beach House, facing difficulties due to Nick's behavior. The couple reunites after Irene is diagnosed with depression. However, Paris must leave when his brother and sister-in-law die in a car accident, leaving him responsible for their children. He invites Irene to join him in caring for them, but she declines. They share a heartfelt farewell before Paris departs once more.

Angie Russell

Angela "Angie" Russell, played by Laurie Foell, first appeared on 26 September 2002 and left on 21 March 2003, with subsequent appearances as a ghost in 2004. The storyline unveiling Angie’s murderer drew Australian audiences of up to 1.5 million viewers, surpassing Nine Network’s Big Brother Australia 2003. Foell’s portrayal earned Angie recognition as one of "The 50 most evil soap villains of all time" by What's on TV. The Sunday Mercury commented on the storyline’s swift resolution compared to typical soap opera plots.

Dylan Russell

Dylan Russell, portrayed by Brett Hicks-Maitland, debuted on 8 October 2002 and departed in 2003, with returns in 2004. Born in Adelaide and a graduate of NIDA, Hicks-Maitland was offered an extended role after impressing the show's producers. Even years later, he remained closely associated with the character Dylan.

Dylan is depicted as a mature yet developing seventeen-year-old with considerable charm and social skills. He arrives in Summer Bay following his mother Angie’s appointment as Deputy Principal. His relationship with Kirsty Sutherland faces opposition from Angie who falsely claims they share the same father, causing their breakup. As Angie’s mental state deteriorates, Dylan distances himself further—especially after a boating accident reveals he is not biologically related to the Sutherlands.

After an altercation results in Dylan unintentionally killing Angie during an argument, he is arrested but eventually acquitted. Dylan moves to the city with his grandmother Monica Markham and later reconnects with his half-sister Tasha Andrews as well as Angie’s lookalike cousin Josie Russell. The episode featuring Dylan’s confession received an Australian Writer’s Guild Award nomination in 2004.

Others

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Context
21 January – 13 March	Pete Sutherland	Christopher Mayer	Rhys Sutherland's brother and Max's father. Pete arrives to reconnect with family but absconds with Max due to gambling liabilities. They come back, yet when debt collectors pursue him, Pete entrusts Max to Rhys and Shelley before departing again.
22–24 January	Brian Alcott	Richard Healy	Miles Alcott’s father who attends the coroner’s inquest concerning his son’s passing. He supports Miles’ partner Brodie and reconciles with Alex Poulos after Alex is exonerated.
23 January	Mrs. Alcott	Uncredited	Miles Alcott’s mother, present during the inquest.
5–13 February	Justin Bell	Mitchell Eirth	Troubled teenager residing at a drop-in centre after being expelled by his mother Maggie for violent conduct. Faces accusations of shoplifting and later claims assault by Flynn Saunders. Maggie attempts blackmail but is thwarted.
5 February – 1 April	Patricia Morgan	Gennie Nevinson	Principal of Reefton Lakes High School who conflicts with Summer Bay High’s principal over school closure plans. She proposes a plan favoring her institution, causing tension; her son Ethan supports Summer Bay’s efforts.
6 February – 8 March	Maggie Bell	Helen O'Connor	Justin Bell’s mother who expels him due to aggression and later unsuccessfully tries to blackmail Flynn Saunders.
11 February – 12 April	Grace O'Connor	Mary Docker	Nurse at Northern Districts Hospital caring for Justin Bell and Nick Smith; briefly dates Nathan Roberts before leaving town.
18–20 February	Mr Atkins	David Webb	Lawyer defending Vinnie Patterson in a fraud case; ultimately unsuccessful.
19 February	Greg West	Dane Carson	Josh West’s father who encourages his son to pursue university studies and later requests Josh manage his enterprises due to health issues.
20 February	Governor Williamson	Alistair Duncan	Judge overseeing Vinnie Patterson’s fraud trial, sentencing him to two years imprisonment.
21 February – 8 April	Ethan Morgan	Ben Connolly	Leader of the Students Committee at Reefton Lakes High; spearheads opposition to school closures and organizes a live-streamed sit-in protest. Confesses romantic interest in Brodie Hanson but is turned down. Detained during police intervention but released afterward.
25 February	Jenny Latham	Fiona Hepburn	Parole officer aiding Nathan Roberts in securing employment.
26 February–14 August 2012	Julie Cooper	Lisa Hayson-Phillips	Nurse at Northern Districts Hospital involved in major story arcs including Flynn Saunders’ death, a nurses’ strike, and being falsely accused of murder before exoneration.
27 February – 21 March	Christopher "Kick" Johnson	Jason Clarke	Reefton Lakes High exchange teacher whose casual approach causes friction with Donald Fisher. Departs following a traumatic bus accident involving his students.
7 March – 6 September	Kelli Edwards	Alyssa-Jane Cook	Local baker supplying the Beachside Diner. Purchases Alex Poulos’ van and briefly dates him before leaving due to pressure from ex-husband Jason Edwards.
12 March – 17 April	Jemma MacKinnon	Thea Gumbert	Hairdresser who befriends Kirsty Sutherland; after being evicted for providing fake identification, she is found homeless but returns home following intervention.
15 March – 13 September	Marie Peters	Cate Murray	Mother of Julius Peters.
28 March – 26 August	Riley Edwards	Issac Gorman	Sons of Kelli Edwards.
	Brayden Edwards	Jamie Broadbent
5–30 April 2003	Jackie Turner	Julieanne Newbould	Journalist and Josh West’s mother; involved in various storylines including defending Flynn Saunders’ reputation and reuniting family members.
17 April	Ray MacKinnon	Christopher Burke	Parents of Gemma MacKinnon, convinced by Shelley Sutherland to allow their daughter back home after she was expelled.
	Carmel MacKinnon	Meredith O'Reilly
19 April – 16 July	Aimee Cooper	Rhianna Griffith	Appears at drop-in centre and competes in orienteering with local students. Befriends Hayley Smith and Noah Lawson but leaves town after erratic behavior linked to family bereavement is revealed.
23 April – 8 May	Ryan Anderson	Damien Fowler	Youth connected with Donald Fisher who experiences bullying at school.
23 May	Captain Ellis	Christopher Galletti	Captain of the Mirgini cruise vessel participating in Summer Bay's 150th anniversary celebrations.
27 June–4 May 2004	Caitlin	Bree Beadman	Schoolmate of Max Sutherland showing romantic interest in him.
18 July – 5 September	Mav Patterson	Clayton Williams	Vinnie Patterson's cousin; attends his son’s christening and briefly dates Brodie Hanson before departing to Vietnam following a tragedy.
1–27 August	Jason Edwards	Benj Daddario	Kelli Edwards’ ex-husband who harasses her and assaults Alex Poulos. Later hospitalized after intervention by Jesse McGregor; also reported for theft at the drop-in centre.
27 August – 6 September	Bernadette	Celia Ireland	Manager of Yabbie Creek RSL club who awards Colleen Smart a jackpot on a poker machine.
17 October–3 July 2003	Mikey Dunn	Trent Atkinson	Autistic student at Summer Bay High who befriends Seb Miller and teacher Sally Fletcher. Leaves after the year-end dance but returns briefly for work before departing again.
17 October–3 July 2003	Mrs Dunn	Susan Kennedy	Mikey Dunn’s mother.
17 October	Kelvin Matthews	James Donnellan	Gym patron at surf club who makes unwanted advances on Hayley Smith; assaulted by Jesse McGregor who faces charges as a result.
17–25 October	Tara	Rebecca Murphy	Former friend of Sally Fletcher asked to act as a surrogate mother. Leaves town after reconnecting with estranged family following past tragedy.
6–12 November	Grigg	Amos Szeps	Ex-cellmate of Jesse McGregor who blackmails him and takes hostages before fleeing. Found deceased days later in Donald Fisher's car.