Elaine Armstrong

Home and Away
Company type	Television series
Industry	Television soap opera
Founded	January 17, 1988; 38 years ago
Headquarters	Australia
Website	7plus.com.au/home-and-away

Home and Away is a long-running Australian soap opera that premiered on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. Below is an overview of characters introduced during 2006, all under the guidance of series producer Julie McGuaran. The show's 19th season was broadcast from 16 January until 1 December 2006. Significant new cast members included Amy Mathews as Rachel Armstrong in January, Jessica Tovey portraying Belle Taylor in February, and Sam North taking on the role of Dom Moran in April. Additionally, Rodger Corser and Trent Baines joined the cast as Doctor Hugh Sullivan and Macca MacKenzie, respectively. In July, Bobby Morley appeared as Drew Curtis, alongside Chris Sadrinna playing Rachel's brother, Brad Armstrong. October welcomed Jessica Chapnik as Sam Tolhurst, her son Rory Tolhurst, and the Cooper siblings—Rocco and Johnny—portrayed by Ian Meadows and Callan Mulvey.

Rachel Armstrong

Rachel Armstrong, brought to life by Amy Mathews, made her first appearance on 16 January 2006. Mathews departed from the series in 2010 to focus on other endeavors; concurrently, her character's husband Tony Holden was also written out of the storyline. According to the official series website, Rachel is characterized by keen intuition, a resolute mindset, strong independence, and remarkable resilience. Mathews described Rachel as sociable and lively, grounded by firm principles and a passionate nature. In 2007, Mathews earned the Logie Award for "New Female Talent" for her portrayal and garnered nominations for "Best Actress" and "Best Couple" at the Inside Soap Awards. One of Rachel’s most prominent story arcs involved her being held hostage by a cult that sought to coerce her into giving birth.

Belle Taylor

Susan "Belle" Taylor, played by Jessica Tovey, debuted on-screen on 3 February 2006. Her major storylines encompassed uncovering her biological mother, struggling with drug addiction, her romantic relationship with Aden Jefferies, and confronting a cancer diagnosis. Tovey exited the show in 2009, with Belle’s final episode airing on 11 August 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 woman" whose insecurities were rooted in a "strict and controlling" upbringing. She craved affection and recognition from her conservative parents who were taken aback by her rebellious behavior.

Tovey received several award nominations for this role including "Most Popular New Female Talent" at the 2007 Logie Awards, "Most Popular Actress" in 2010, as well as multiple nods at the Inside Soap Awards for "Sexiest Female" (2007), "Best Actress," and "Best Storyline" for her drug addiction plot (2009). The wedding of Belle and Aden was nominated in the Bride and Doom category at the 2010 All About Soap awards. The episode featuring Belle’s funeral received a nomination from the Australian Writer's Guild Award in 2010. Virgin Media honored Belle and Aden as one of television’s "sexiest soap couples," while viewers voted them Home and Away’s Hottest Couple in a poll conducted by Holy Soap.

Dom Moran

Dominic "Dom" Moran, played by Sam North, was featured from 20 April 2006 until 14 February 2008.

Dom is employed by his uncle Ray (Damien Garvey) at Moran Motors. He instigates trouble by playing hazardous pranks on Ric Dalby (Mark Furze), such as burning Ric with battery acid and nearly injuring him with a malfunctioning jack. Dom also targets Ric's girlfriend Belle Taylor (Jessica Tovey) with harassment, leading to conflicts that result in Ray dismissing him for being too risky.

When he returns the following year, Dom supplies Drew Curtis (Bobby Morley) with illicit car components for "The Beast" and participates in drag racing alongside local criminal Denni Maitland (Joshua Helman). After Denni dies in a crash, Dom sets fire to Drew’s vehicle to conceal stolen parts. He agrees to assist in exonerating Drew in return for a kiss from Belle, then admits his guilt and is imprisoned for theft.

Following his release, Dom abducts Belle but is located and stopped by Drew and Ray. Later, he collapses at the diner and requires emergency surgery, during which Belle pretends to reciprocate his feelings to motivate his recovery. With support from physiotherapist Sam Holden (Jessica Chapnik), Dom pursues Belle once more. He takes employment at the diner and taunts Drew, prompting Irene Roberts (Lynne McGranger) and Roman Harris (Conrad Coleby) to arrange an interview for Dom with Irene’s daughter, Finlay (Tina Thomsen) in the city as a way to distance him from Belle. Dom undermines this chance and departs for the city, promising to come back.

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

Hugh Sullivan

Hugh Sullivan, portrayed by Rodger Corser, appeared between 5 April 2006 and 12 June 2007. In October 2020, Corser was spotted with Home and Away cast members in Coogee, fueling rumors of a possible return since his character remains alive.

Hugh arrives in Summer Bay as both a friend and former lover of Rachel Armstrong (Amy Mathews). He asks Leah Patterson-Baker (Ada Nicodemou) out while she is separated but is turned down. Returning several months later, Hugh develops romantic feelings for Rachel, who is now married to Kim Hyde (Chris Hemsworth). He supports her through marital difficulties and awkwardly tries to set her up with Nurse Julie Cooper. After attending a medical conference, Hugh moves out when Rachel expresses uncertainty about her marriage.

During an evening out, Hugh meets Ingrid Lynch (Leigh Shorten) but admits he is emotionally unavailable. Rachel confronts him about his feelings; after she leaves Kim following an argument, they share a kiss. Hugh receives a job offer in Johannesburg and demands Rachel choose between them; after her hesitation, he leaves. Months later, he reaches out to Rachel, now engaged to Tony Holden, but she declines.

Inside Soap readers preferred Hugh over Kim as Rachel's partner, with 57% casting their vote for him.

Macca MacKenzie

Michael "Macca" MacKenzie, played by Trent Baines, made his debut on 7 April 2006 and exited the series on 23 February 2007.

Macca’s primary narrative revolves around his relationship with Cassie Turner (portrayed by Sharni Vinson) and the ongoing domestic violence he inflicts upon her. Baines underscored the storyline’s societal significance, stressing the necessity of seeking assistance in similar circumstances.

Upon arriving in Summer Bay, Macca is introduced as Martha MacKenzie's brother. He quickly forms a friendship with Cassie and supports her boxing training. Although Martha expresses concerns about his previous conduct toward women, Macca takes a courier position and commits to maintaining a long-distance connection with Cassie. Returning earlier than expected, he rents an apartment above the Beachside Diner but struggles with his job’s pressures, which leads him to substance abuse. Ric Dalby and Cassie both uncover his drug use; when confronted, Macca initially denies any issues but eventually his jealousy triggers physical violence against Cassie.

As the abuse intensifies, Cassie attempts to leave him. Following intervention by Sally Fletcher, Macca turns himself in to the police and seeks rehabilitation. Although barred from attending Martha’s wedding, he performs a heroic rescue of Jack during an explosion but sustains injuries himself. After leaving the hospital prematurely, he participates in a search for missing friends, saving Ric from falling despite his own injury before departing once the group is found.

Several months later, Macca returns claiming to have completed counseling and rekindles an affair with Cassie despite her reconciliation with Ric. When Ric uncovers this betrayal, a confrontation ensues resulting in Macca being evicted from the caravan park. He briefly stays with Amanda Vale, who shows romantic interest in him, but he rejects her advances. Offered a desk role in the city by his employer, he plans to move there with Cassie despite Sally’s objections. However, Cassie returns to Summer Bay amid local conflicts involving Sally and Ric. Macca’s frustration culminates in further violence toward Cassie, leading him to surrender once more to law enforcement.

Drew Curtis

Drew Curtis, portrayed by Bobby Morley, first appeared on 7 July 2006 and departed on 21 March 2008. Prior to joining the cast, Morley had roles in Angels with Dirty Faces and was subsequently cast in Home and Away. Although older than the character he portrayed, Morley relocated from Melbourne to Sydney for the role and admitted feeling nervous adjusting to the rapid filming pace. He left at the end of 2007 and later described his time on the show as being treated like a "meat puppet" due to frequent shirtless scenes.

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

Brad Armstrong

Bradley "Brad" Armstrong, played by Chris Sadrinna, appeared on the show from 11 July 2006 until 13 November 2007. He was introduced as a supportive presence for Sally Fletcher (Kate Ritchie) following the passing of her husband, Flynn Saunders. Brad’s narrative arc involved dealing with personal hardships such as the loss of his mother Elaine and navigating family relationships, particularly with his sister Rachel (Amy Mathews).

Following Elaine’s death, Brad arrives in Summer Bay to assist Rachel and take charge of funeral arrangements. His romantic relationship with Emily Vincent (Libby Richmond) culminates in a beach wedding, but tragedy strikes when Emily succumbs to leukaemia, leaving Brad heartbroken. This grief draws him closer to Sally, who is also mourning. As principal of Summer Bay High, Brad encounters various difficulties including disputes with students like Rocco Cooper and tensions involving Rocco’s brother Johnny. A violent stabbing incident targeting Sally strengthens their connection, prompting Brad to move in with her.

Trouble emerges when Naomi Preston (Tiffany Preece) accuses Brad of inappropriate behavior linked to her relationship with Lucas Holden, leading to his suspension from the principal role. Despite this, Sally accepts Brad’s proposal, but she ultimately abandons him on their wedding day, causing Brad to leave their shared home.

Subsequently, Brad and Rachel uncover that their father Robert (John Gregg) has a daughter named Tamsyn (Gabrielle Scollay) from an extramarital affair. They take responsibility for Tamsyn despite her behavioral issues, which contributes to Brad missing out on a position at Yabbie Creek High. Brad’s commitment as a family man is further demonstrated when he supports Sally after her daughter Pippa suffers an accident. Eventually, Brad opts to move to Tasmania and invites Heather and Tamsyn to accompany him.

Sadrinna received a nomination for Best Newcomer at the 2007 Inside Soap Awards; both he and Ritchie were also contenders for Best Couple. The episode featuring Sally leaving Brad at the altar earned an Australian Writer's Guild award in 2008, while the storm-at-sea installment was nominated for Best Single Episode at the 2008 Digital Spy Soap Awards.

Rocco Cooper

Rocco Cooper, portrayed by Ian Meadows, made his debut on 11 October 2006 and departed on 6 February 2007.

Rocco arrives at Summer Bay High after receiving approval from Sally Fletcher (Kate Ritchie), who overrides principal Brad Armstrong (Chris Sadrinna) due to Rocco’s history as a gang member. Sally champions giving him a fresh start, and Rocco demonstrates commitment in his new environment. Upon discovering his living conditions, she offers him accommodation.

His elder brother, Johnny (Callan Mulvey), exerts pressure on Rocco to remain involved in gang activities, threatening fatal consequences if he tries to leave. Rocco initially provides an alibi for Johnny’s criminal acts but eventually betrays him by reporting a staged Credit Union robbery. After Johnny is imprisoned, he orders Rocco to kill Sally or face death himself. Under duress, Rocco stabs Sally but spares her life.

Sally survives the attack, prompting Johnny to threaten Rocco once more. When Sally recalls details of the assault, her foster son Ric Dalby (Mark Furze) confronts Rocco. Fearing retaliation, Rocco arranges a safehouse with Johnny’s assistance. Ric later discovers Rocco severely assaulted; after spending days in a coma, Rocco dies. His burial takes place in an unmarked grave attended only by Sally, Brad, and Johnny (who is under police guard). Ric is initially arrested for the murder but released after Johnny’s culpability is uncovered.

The plotline involving 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, made her first appearance on 17 October 2006. Chapnik secured the part unexpectedly and departed in 2008 to focus on her career in the United States. She characterized Sam as a multifaceted individual "laden with self-hatred" and "destined for downfall," with a tragic trajectory that was believable. Chapnik mentioned that Sam’s emotional "weight" presented a unique challenge in justifying her decisions, unlike any other role she had undertaken.

Eleven Magazine emphasized Sam’s involvement in generating "considerable turmoil" within Summer Bay. Scott Ellis of the Sun-Herald labeled her as a "psychotic murderer."

Johnny Cooper

Johnny Cooper, brought to life by Callan Mulvey, debuted on 19 October and left on 25 March 2008. Mulvey earned nominations for "Best Bad Boy" at the Inside Soap Awards consecutively in 2007 and 2008 for his portrayal.

Rory Tolhurst

Rory Holden (originally Deeks, formerly Tolhurst) appeared from 20 October 2006 until 14 April 2008. Ed Willis initially played Rory before Jack Rickard assumed the role in 2007.

Rory is introduced via Jack Holden, who is connected to Rory through his mother, Sam Holden, a patient of Jack’s. Jack and Sam begin a relationship and cohabit with Rory. After Sam is abducted, Rory attempts to locate her but is restrained by Jack’s father, Tony Holden. Subsequently, Sam and Rory leave Summer Bay but return after Sam suffers a broken ankle.

Later, Rory is taken hostage by his father Shane Deeks, an escaped convict. After a police pursuit, Shane dies; Rory emerges unharmed and comes to regard Jack as a paternal figure.

Academically gifted, Rory advances early to Year 7 at Summer Bay High but encounters bullying. Aden Jefferies defends him in return for Rory rigging a school election. When the deceit is uncovered, Rory is assigned detention. During a school excursion, Rory and Annie Campbell become lost but are eventually found by peers.

Rory expresses excitement when Jack and Sam become engaged and eagerly shares the news. He attains an A+ for an essay about Jack but causes trouble by stealing Jack’s firearm and nearly discharging it at Dr. Lewis Rigg. After Martha cautions Jack about marrying Sam, Rory misbehaves but ultimately gives his mother away at the wedding.

The family’s stability collapses when Johnny Cooper assaults Sam. She takes Rory to stay with her sister Britt Grey but later passes away. Rory blames Jack for the tragedy and instructs him to avoid the funeral.

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

Others

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Description
24 January–28 February	Rebecca Tate	Janneke Arent	Former cult member of The Believers led by Mumma Rose; warns of cult plans involving her son Jonah Abraham; abducted but later assists Tasha and Jonah's escape before vanishing.
15 February–22 March	Brian Helpman	John Noble	Senior physician at Northern Districts Hospital who harasses Rachel Armstrong, escalating to blackmail; Rachel reports him to CEO Geoff Olivetti.
22 February–2 March	Judge Gilroy	Elizabeth Gentle	Oversees Alf Stewart's fraud case, sentencing him to nine months incarceration.
2 March–13 April 2012	James Gibson	Richard Sydenham	Police prosecutor participating in trials including those of Alf Stewart, Angelo Rosetta's settlement, Casey Braxton's arson case, and Sasha Bezmel's murder trial.
2 March–5 July 2009	Geoff Olivetti	Barry Quin	CEO of Northern Districts Hospital managing investigations such as Rachel Armstrong's harassment complaint and malpractice allegations.
21–26 April	Robert Armstrong	John Gregg	Estranged father to Rachel and Brad Armstrong; Regional Director of Emergency at Northern Districts; seeks Rachel’s testimony in lawsuit related to past car accident but is declined.
21 April–5 November 2007	Ray Moran	Damien Garvey	Owner of Moran Motors garage; involved in workplace disputes including conflicts with nephew Dom and employee Ric Dalby; later terminates Ric due to external pressures.
25 April–20 June	Elaine Armstrong	Julie Hudspeth	Mother of Rachel and Brad Armstrong suffering from amnesia caused by prior accident; dies following injuries from gas explosion.
5 May–1 June	Doris McKinnon	Julie Herbert	Elderly woman under Rachel Armstrong’s care; dies after cardiac arrest triggered by medication overdose administered by grandson Charlie.
5 May–6 June	Charlie McKinnon	Matt Levett	Grandson of Doris McKinnon who develops obsessive tendencies towards Rachel Armstrong and Kim Hyde; kidnaps Rachel and is subsequently committed for psychiatric treatment.
11 May–28 November	Lee Morton	Natasha Lee	Teenage mother impregnated by teacher Steve Braeburn; gives birth to son Joe, temporarily entrusts him to Rachel Armstrong before reclaiming custody amid relationship difficulties.
23 May–20 June	Tracey Thompson	Sarah Enright	Police detective assisting investigation into Summer Bay stalker; revealed as conspirator with stalker Eve Jacobsen before both perish in gas explosion.
5 June–23 March 2007	Kitty Landsdowne	Geraldine Turner	Amanda Vale’s mother who falsely claims Belle Taylor is her deceased daughter; extorts money from Kitty’s other daughter Kelli to maintain secrecy before departing Summer Bay.
6 June–11 September	Evan Rice	Matthew Starling	Yabbie Creek police constable involved in framing Drew Curtis through blackmail; later faces charges of arson and bribery.
15 June	David Taylor	Mark Pegler	Belle Taylor’s adoptive father who extorts money from Kitty Landsdowne; rejected by Belle when offering part of payoff.
23 June–17 July	Colin Page	Shane Withington	Helicopter pilot involved in crash during medical evacuation; mediates among stranded group before rescue arrives.
13–19 July	Steve Braeburn	Sam Lyndon	Science teacher at Summer Bay High who impregnates student Lee Morton; attempts forced abortion and arrested for kidnapping attempt.
3 August–1 May 2008	Betty Allsop	May Turner	Acquaintance of Colleen Smart participating in local bowls tournament featuring cheating scandal that aids Colleen’s victory.
3 August–5 September	Tara O'Neill	Cashelle Dunn	Gym patron who falsely accuses Kim Hyde of sexual assault seeking attention; later admits fabrication.

External links

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