Kim Patterson

Home and Away

Company type	Television series
Industry	Television, Entertainment
Founded	January 17, 1988 (1988-01-17)
Founder	Seven Network
Headquarters	Australia
Area served	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. This section details characters introduced throughout 1989, listed by their debut dates, all brought in under the guidance of executive producer Des Monaghan. The series' second season commenced on 23 January 1989. Notable introductions include Martha Stewart (January), the student Vicki Baxter (February), Rebecca Fisher (April), Emily Symons as Marilyn Chambers (May), the birth of Duncan Stewart (June), Mat Stevenson as Adam Cameron (June), Mouche Phillips as Viv Newton (July), and Dannii Minogue portraying Emma Jackson (September).

Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart was originally portrayed by Alison Mulvaney and appeared between 25 January and 13 February 1989. She was introduced through flashbacks as the first wife of Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher). The character was reintroduced on 27 March 2018 with Belinda Giblin taking over the role; Giblin had previously appeared in the series in 1991. Ray Meagher reportedly recommended Giblin for this recasting, praising her as an ideal fit. Martha holds the distinction of having the longest interval between appearances on Home and Away.

Reintroduced during the show's 30th anniversary celebrations, Martha's storyline revealed that contrary to earlier belief, she had not died but had vanished due to personal unhappiness. Their daughter, Roo Stewart, initially tries unsuccessfully to locate her mother until Martha eventually arrives in Summer Bay. After a phone conversation with Alf, she returns and rekindles their romantic relationship despite difficulties arising from her borderline personality disorder (BPD), which leads to anxiety and complicates her interpersonal connections.

Martha was married to Alf Stewart and is the mother of Ruth "Roo" Stewart. Thought to have drowned in a sailing accident in 1985, Martha was previously seen only in flashbacks through diary entries read by Bobby Simpson, who was searching for her biological parents. It was uncovered that Martha had arranged Bobby’s adoption after discovering Alf’s sister Morag Bellingham was Bobby’s mother.

Years later, after surviving an explosion and fearing for his life, Alf confides in Roo that Martha is still alive. Martha meets Ryder Jackson, who helps her secure a caravan rental from Alf, and later reunites with both Alf and Roo. She reveals her departure stemmed from struggles with BPD that affected her ability to connect with Roo and fear of confronting her mental health challenges. Although she underwent treatment, guilt delayed her return despite knowing Roo’s life was stable. Roo invites Martha to dinner with Alf; although she misses it initially, Martha apologizes and explains her absence.

Several months on, Alf contacts Martha but ends the call abruptly; when she visits Summer Bay seeking clarity, Alf asks her to leave but admits he misses her. They resume their relationship; Martha paints a portrait of Alf and expresses her love, though he remains cautious at first. Anxiety triggered by difficulty reaching Roo leads Martha to disclose her BPD diagnosis before deciding to return home together with Alf joining later. They inform Roo about their renewed relationship.

At one stage, Martha moves permanently back to Summer Bay after accepting Alf’s invitation despite some initial difficulties adjusting and seeks mental health support via Alex Neilson’s referral. Following tragic news about Mason Morgan and Robbo’s deaths, Alf proposes marriage again; after some hesitation, Martha agrees and they marry before traveling to visit Alf’s sisters.

Owning a home and studio in Merimbula causes tension when Alf urges her to sell it; Martha explains it is crucial for managing her BPD symptoms. She also reveals having a son named Kieran Baldivis, whom she confides in Irene Roberts about before visiting him to share news of her marriage to Alf. Upon returning, she informs both Alf and Roo about Kieran, acknowledging their complicated relationship due to his long absence but noting his eagerness to reconnect.

Martha continues residing in Merimbula while Alf frequently visits her there.

Vicki Baxter

Vicki Baxter, brought to life by Nana Coburn, made her first appearance on 22 February 1989. Interestingly, Coburn’s father, Norman Coburn, was also part of the cast, playing the role of headmaster Donald Fisher. David Brown from TV Week labeled Vicki as "Summer Bay's local troublemaker." Although Coburn was initially reluctant to portray a villainous character, she eventually grew fond of the part. She featured in a semi-regular capacity and filmed her final scenes in June 1990, which included a notable altercation with Dannii Minogue.

Within Summer Bay High, Vicki acted as an antagonist in Steven Matheson’s class, bullying peers and clashing with Emma Jackson. After an unsuccessful attempt to attract teacher Grant Mitchell, Vicki falsely accused him of sexual harassment, leading to his suspension. Emma compelled Vicki to admit the truth, allowing Grant to resume his position. Subsequently, Vicki framed Emma for stealing exam papers, causing Emma’s expulsion. With assistance from her cousin Anna, Steven and Paul Jensen uncovered Vicki’s manipulations, resulting in Vicki’s own expulsion.

Rebecca Fisher

Rebecca Fisher, portrayed by Jane Hall, debuted on 3 April 1989 as the daughter of principal Donald Fisher. She became romantically involved with Steven Matheson. The producers valued the chemistry between Hall and Adam Willits and contemplated occasional returns for Rebecca. The role was later recast with Danielle Carter in 1994 for a seven-week period and subsequently with Belinda Emmett in 1996. Emmett’s interpretation earned her nominations for the Logie Awards including Most Popular New Talent (1997), Most Popular Actress (1998, 1999), and the prestigious Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television.

Marilyn Chambers

Marilyn Chambers, played by Emily Symons, first appeared on 18 May 1989. Symons departed in 1992 but made a comeback from 1995 through 1999. Dannii Minogue initially auditioned for Marilyn but was instead cast as Emma Jackson, while Symons took on Marilyn’s role. According to Holy Soap, Marilyn was characterized as a "bubbly" and "dizzy blonde beautician."

Duncan Stewart

Duncan Stewart was introduced on 14 June 1989. Brendan McKensy’s performance earned him a nomination for Best Young Actor at the 1999 Inside Soap Awards.

Adam Cameron

Adam Cameron, portrayed by Mat Stevenson, arrived on screen on 28 June 1989. Stevenson, who had previously acted in rival soap Neighbours, relocated from Melbourne to Sydney for this role. He exited the show in 1994. Stevenson described Adam as somewhat of a "layabout" who favors relaxation over responsibility but is capable of kindness. An Inside Soap columnist referred to Adam as a "former joker" and "easygoing." Stevenson returned for a guest appearance in 1999 and considered rejoining full-time, noting that little had changed on the series.

Viv Newton

Viv Newton, enacted by Mouche Phillips, first appeared on 5 July 1989 and departed on 25 May 1990. Phillips began filming shortly after Justine Clarke left the show. In an interview with Look-in, she mentioned her preference for staying active on set, often prompting others to look for her when she was off-script.

Emma Jackson

Emma Jackson, portrayed by Dannii Minogue, made her debut on 22 September 1989 and exited the series on 22 August 1990. Although Minogue initially auditioned for the role of Marilyn Chambers, she was ultimately cast as Emma. She stayed on the show for one year before shifting her focus to a music career. Despite speculation about a return for the show's 20th anniversary in 2008, she did not reappear. For her portrayal of Emma, Minogue received a Logie Award nomination in 1989 for "Most Popular Actress on Australian Television." Additionally, Holy Soap ranked her among Home and Away's "Sexiest girls ever."

Others

26 October–15 November||Rory Heywood || Gregor Jordan || Man claiming friendship with Fletcher family through his father irritates locals before being killed by shark attack prompting Adam Cameron's efforts to capture the shark. Rory's death regarded as significant storyline by Judy Nunn. 30 October–2 November||Mick|| Bruce Samazan || Friend of Andrew Foley staying with him and Stacey Macklin; drug addict whose erratic conduct causes conflict before leaving town. 31 October || Chas, pool hall operator || Richard Huggett || Pool player hustled by Mick leading to warnings against Mick competing against Lance Smart or Martin Dibble due to Mick's skill level.

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Circumstances
25 January	Les Palmer	Graham Lancaster	Les, Celia Stewart’s deceased fiancé, appears in flashbacks from 1970 when Bobby Simpson reads Martha Stewart’s diary. They had planned to marry, but Les died in the Vietnam War.
26 January–16 March	Nicholas Walsh	Robert Taylor	Engaged to Stacey Macklin, Nicholas visits Summer Bay and conspires with her father to acquire the caravan park. He frames Roo Stewart with poison pen letters and assaults Stacey but is stopped by Tom Fletcher.
1 February–5 September	Kim Patterson	Jacqui Townsend	Sister to Alison and Mav Patterson, Kim attends Summer Bay Primary and discovers Morag Bellingham's memoir manuscript. She challenges Sally Fletcher’s belief in the "Summer Bay Bunyip."
13 February–20 March	Richard Bellingham	John Bonney	Morag Bellingham’s husband of two decades separates from her after learning Morag is Bobby Simpson’s mother. He cautions Roo Stewart against Morag before departing.
20 February–21 November	James Donahue	Richard Morgan	A reporter from The Daily Star who investigates Morag's secret motherhood, manipulates Celia Stewart for information, and convinces Lance Smart to fabricate a shark sighting.
22 February–5 April	Leanne Dunn	Kylie Foster	Leanne dates Martin Dibble, seeks etiquette lessons, reveals she cannot read or write, and after conflicts involving Martin and her ex Meat Axe, leaves town with Meat Axe, causing Martin heartbreak.
1 March–12 November	Enid	Jan Oxenbould	A friend of Celia Stewart who participates in a community meeting about a dangerous shark near the beach.
8 March	Nola Dibble	Denise Roberts	Martin Dibble’s mother appears when he introduces Leanne Dunn to his family.
8 March	Scott Dibble / Errol Dibble	Uncredited	Martin Dibble’s brothers are present during a family dinner with their parents Ern and Nola Dibble.
21 March–24 May	Nigel Taggart	Gary Down	Morag Bellingham’s visually impaired personal assistant who mediates family issues and gently declines Celia Stewart’s romantic interest before resigning to gain independence.
28 March	Ross Maybury	John Banas	Host of 'The World Tonight' talk show; interviews Donald Fisher and Bobby Simpson about Alan Fisher's novel and unsettles Bobby by revealing Morag’s maternity secret.
4–5 April	Meat Axe	Joseph Dicker	Leanne Dunn’s ex-boyfriend arrives to reconcile, fights Martin Dibble, but departs with Leanne after she smashes a bottle over his head.
18 April–17 August 1989, 8 September–23 October 1995	Brian "Dodge" Forbes	Kelly Dingwall	Troublemaking foster child of the Fletchers who commits theft, arson causing Philip Matheson's death, frames Simon Yates for arson, bullies Sally Fletcher, and is imprisoned for murder. Released on parole in 1995, he kills 'Mud' Roberts, frames Steven Matheson for murder, kidnaps Kelly Watson, and disappears following a cliffside confrontation.
20 April–16 May	Simon Yates	Christopher Saunders	Former convict employed at Bayside diner who dates Roo Stewart despite warnings; is harassed by Steven Matheson and falsely accused of arson by Dodge; flees town after bail is granted.
2–9 May	Andrew Foley Senior	Alan Tobin	Estranged father of Andrew Foley seeks reconciliation before passing away; leaves Andrew money and an apology letter in his will.
10 May 1989 – 22 February 1990	Howard West	Richard Rowe	Representative from Department of Childcare Services who places Dodge Forbes with the Fletchers, investigates John Newton's abuse of daughters Viv and Tammy, issues supervision orders, and temporarily removes Viv from Donald Fisher's care.
11 May	Peter Braithwaite	Ron Blanchard	Insurance assessor suspicious of Celia Stewart's large claim after her store fire.
18–29 May	Kyoko Sakamoto	Yuka Mitani	Interpreter assisting Japanese clients visiting the Macklin family on business matters.
2–8 June	Peter Bedford	Bevan Wilson	Investor in Macklin development who initially hesitates to sign contracts due to Frank Morgan's lack of university education but is persuaded by Martin Dibble.
2 June	Claire Bedford	Linda Anning	Peter Bedford’s wife who accompanies him to dinner with the Fletcher family.
8 June–18 July	Flynn	Mark McCann	Labourer employed by Macklin corporation involved in a strike; later helps rescue Marilyn Chambers during a stunt accident.
13 June	Jay Everett	Andrew Doyle	Motivational speaker temporarily managing the Macklin development office; energizes Martin Dibble but fails to motivate Roo Stewart amid personal difficulties.
6 July–13 September	Nina Olivera	Raquel Suarstzman	Friend of Stacey Macklin who forms the band Image with Lance Smart, Martin Dibble, and Marilyn Chambers; secures a promotion in Los Angeles and invites Stacey to join later.
11 July	Beulah	Robyn Gurney	Homeless woman who supports Viv Newton during her time living on the streets.
19 July	Sgt. Col Baker	Simon Westaway	Police officer questioning Dodge Forbes about a stolen car incident; Steven Matheson takes responsibility instead.
21 July–1 August	John Newton	John Gregg	Reverend and abusive father of Viv and Tammy Newton; imprisons Viv in a cupboard; following intervention by locals and social services, custody disputes lead John to relinquish custody under supervision orders.
27 July 1989 – 25 May 1990	Tammy Newton	Katy Edwards	Younger sister of Viv Newton used by their father John to manipulate Viv; later escapes abuse to reunite with Viv and their mother Angela Newton to start afresh in Queensland.
9 August 1989 – 16 April 1990	Rex Wilson	Barry Donnelly	Matt Wilson’s uncle serving on local council; secures Matt a beach inspector position; closes Andrew Foley’s advice centre; resigns following a heart attack.
9 August	Freddie Hudson	Mark Arbib	Student visiting Andrew Foley’s Youth advice centre at Bayside diner.
18–31 August	Ross Keating	James Gleeson	Estranged uncle of Sally Keating seeking custody; invites Sally to live with him and his wife Louise but she chooses to remain with the Fletchers; Ross then departs Summer Bay.
23–31 August	Louise Keating	Felicity Soper	Wife of Ross Keating; unable to have children due to ovarian cancer surgery; forms bond with niece Sally but respects her decision to stay with the Fletchers.
29 August 1989, 23 March 1990	Len Baxter	Uncredited / Damian Cudmore	Vicki Baxter’s father who reacts angrily when Vicki accuses teacher Grant Mitchell of molestation; demands Grant's removal but Vicki later admits fabrication leading to Grant's reinstatement.
29 August–10 November	Danny Farnsworth	Justin Connor	Son of Gordon Farnsworth whose suicide was linked to Morag Bellingham’s sentencing; seeks revenge through threats and sabotage while working as Morag's assistant; holds Morag hostage before fleeing town after Bobby Simpson intervenes.
30 August 1989 – 8 July 1996	Chris Hale	John Meillon Jr.	Police constable promoted to sergeant involved in investigations including Andrew Foley’s trespassing case and arrests of Shane Parrish and Sally Fletcher. Causes fatal hit-and-run involving Shane Parrish leading to guilt-driven actions and eventual suspension after confessing truth.
11 September	Doctor Ellis	Marilyn Allen	Hospital physician arranging Tom Fletcher’s transfer following heart attack.
11 September	Doctor Williamson	David Whitford	City doctor diagnosing Tom Fletcher with intracerebral haematoma.
18–21 September	Ian McTavish	Noel Trevarthen	Scottish explorer searching for the "Summer Bay Bunyip"; unsuccessfully flirts with Celia Stewart; leaves after discovering no such creature exists.
20 September	Samantha Walker	Fiona Shannon	Youth worker informing Ailsa Stewart that niece Emma Jackson wishes to live with her due to family estrangement.
11–12 October	Millicent Staples	Julie Haseler	Wealthy young woman booking a charter cruise with Adam Cameron; deceives him by leaving him stranded on an island after gaining his trust.
11 October	Henry Whiting	Patrick Ward	Owner of local hot dog stand sold to Celia Stewart after offers from Lance Smart and Martin Dibble are declined.
25 October	Sylvia Wilson	Marie Armstrong	Rex Wilson’s wife appearing during council events involving Matt Wilson’s hot dog stand closure.

External links

• Cast and characters on the Official AU Home and Away site
• Cast and characters on the Official UK Home and Away site
• Cast and characters at the Internet Movie Database