Lara Fitzgerald

Home and Away

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

Home and Away is a long-running Australian soap opera. The characters introduced in 2005 were brought in by series producer Julie McGuaran. Season 18 premiered on the Seven Network on 10 January 2005. The year began with Emily Perry portraying Eve Jacobsen. In March, Isaac Gorman and Sharni Vinson joined the cast as Ryan Baker and Cassie Turner, respectively. April saw Doug Scroope take on the role of Graham Walters. June introduced Ryan’s mother, Amanda Vale, played by Holly Brisley. August marked the arrival of Todd Lasance as Aden Jefferies alongside the Holden family: widower Tony (Jon Sivewright) and his sons Jack (Paul O'Brien) and Lucas (Rhys Wakefield). In November, James Mitchell appeared as Jonah Abraham and Linden Wilkinson as Mumma Rose.

Eve Jacobsen

Eve Jacobsen (also known as Zoe McCallister), played by Emily Perry, made her first appearance on 21 January 2005. Perry’s casting was revealed in TV Week towards the end of 2004; she had previously been seen on the show in a background role. Perry viewed this part as a pivotal moment in her acting career.

Eve was employed as a nurse at a psychiatric facility and became entangled with patient Sarah Lewis (Luisa Hastings-Edge). After Sarah’s boyfriend dies due to a crystal meth overdose connected to Sarah, Eve helps Sarah escape as an act of vengeance. Her actions escalate to violent crimes including murder, arson, and sabotage, leading Eve to adopt the alias Zoe McCallister to avoid detection.

Her offenses intensify with attempted homicide, framing others, issuing bomb threats, and stalking central figures such as Sally Fletcher (Kate Ritchie). Detective Peter Baker (Nicholas Bishop) plays a key role in tracking her down. The storyline concludes with Eve’s capture, though she resurfaces at Jack Holden and Martha MacKenzie's wedding where she takes hostages before dying in an explosion alongside her accomplice Tracey Thompson.

The "Summer Bay Stalker" plotline featuring Eve earned nominations for "Best Storyline" at the 2006 and 2007 Inside Soap Awards and is remembered for its strong impact on viewership and audience interest. Critics commended the suspenseful narrative and Perry’s performance, considering it one of the series’ most memorable arcs.

Ryan Baker

Ryan Baker, portrayed by Isaac Gorman, debuted on 16 March 2005 and remained until 2007 with guest returns in 2008 and 2009. Gorman had earlier appeared in the series as Riley Edwards in 2002.

Ryan arrives prior to his father Dan's wedding to Leah Patterson (Ada Nicodemou). Though he initially appears courteous towards Leah, he frequently shows resentment, creating conflict by damaging Leah's wedding dress and burning invitations after discovering his mother Amanda Vale (Holly Brisley) was excluded from the event. Matters worsen when Leah’s son VJ suffers minor burns from ashes left by Ryan, prompting Ryan to flee. His uncle Peter finds him and explains that Dan and Amanda will not reconcile. Ryan then apologizes, fixes what he damaged, returns to Amanda in America, and later comes back as a ring bearer at the wedding.

Dan later judges Amanda to be a negative influence and brings Ryan to live with him and Leah. After an argument, Amanda takes Ryan back to Los Angeles but returns months later with him; they settle in Summer Bay alongside Amanda’s daughter and Ryan’s half-sister Belle Taylor (Jessica Tovey). When Amanda becomes engaged and marries Peter, Ryan moves back in with Dan and Leah. Following Dan’s acceptance of a job overseas, Ryan resists relocating due to missing Amanda, leading Dan to send him to live with her and Peter. After Dan dies in an accident abroad, Amanda and Ryan come back for his memorial service. Ryan expresses concerns about his relationship with Leah and VJ but is reassured about his family connections. They later attend Belle’s wedding and funeral after her death from cancer before returning to the city.

For his portrayal of Ryan, Gorman received a nomination for Best Young Actor at the 2006 Inside Soap Awards.

Cassie Turner

Cassie Turner, played by Sharni Vinson, made her debut on 18 March 2005 and departed the series on 2 April 2008. Prior to this, Vinson had appeared in guest roles in 2001 and 2003. Although she auditioned for the part of Martha MacKenzie in 2004, she was ultimately cast as Cassie Turner. In July 2007, it was reported that Vinson intended to leave the show to explore career opportunities in Los Angeles. By November, it was confirmed she had exited to relocate to the United States with her partner, while the program continued featuring her character into early 2008.

Cassie's persona was described as "strong-willed and fiercely independent," with an ability to learn from her errors and "forge friendships and influence others." Vinson received a nomination for "Most Popular New Female Talent" at the 2006 Logie Awards for her portrayal. Media outlets labeled Cassie a "seductive soap siren," and noted that Vinson’s exit was regarded as a loss particularly by the show's male viewers.

Graham Walters

Graham Walters, enacted by Doug Scroope, first appeared on 22 April 2005 and exited following the character's death on 3 March 2006.

Graham comes to Summer Bay to celebrate his grandson Robbie Hunter's eighteenth birthday, revealing strained relations with his daughter Beth due to his emotionally distant behavior. He attributes this distance to trauma endured during his service in the Vietnam War. After selling his farm, Graham seeks to rebuild connections with his family. He becomes romantically involved with Amanda Vale, a woman much younger than himself who previously dated his grandson Scott Hunter. Despite family objections, Graham marries Amanda.

Amanda takes advantage of Graham, avoiding physical intimacy and frequently leaving her son Ryan Baker in Graham’s care. Upon discovering Amanda's affair with Josh West, Graham teams up with Morag Bellingham to expose Josh's illicit Project 56. During a confrontation, Graham suffers a heart attack. Amanda calls for medical assistance but eventually abandons him. Declared brain dead, a dispute arises over continuing life support; Robbie ultimately decides to end Graham's life by turning off the machine.

Amanda inherits Graham's assets and organizes a wake that is largely overlooked in favor of the Hunter family gathering. She later returns Graham’s war medals to Beth. Following Robbie’s admission of terminating life support, he is convicted but avoids incarceration.

Diesel Williams

Diesel Williams, portrayed by Marcus Jacometti, first appeared on 9 May 2005 and left the series on 17 June 2005.

This role marked Jacometti’s acting debut after completing Year 12, with a contract spanning 20 episodes. He traveled from Kingston, Tasmania to Sydney for filming. Jacometti described the experience as "an incredible feeling" despite initial nervousness and challenges adapting to Sydney life. He praised his co-stars for their support and characterized Diesel as someone who "falls for unsuitable people, stirs up trouble, then leaves."

Diesel arrives at Summer Bay High School, introduced by principal Barry Hyde to Sally Fletcher. His distinctive appearance leads to bullying from Jason Pappa and others, who target him over a rose tattoo, assuming he is homosexual. To counter these rumors, Diesel dates Matilda Hunter but tells Cassie Turner he has no genuine romantic interest in Matilda. Jason continues harassing Diesel and eventually assaults him.

After conflicts with foster parents leave him homeless, Sally invites Diesel to live with her and her husband Flynn Saunders; however, Flynn is hesitant. Rising tensions between Diesel and Flynn prompt Diesel to move out when hostel accommodation becomes available. Diesel falsely claims an affair with Sally to Henry Hunter and later kisses Sally while tutoring her son Dan Baker; this is witnessed by Dan. Following rejection, Diesel accuses Sally of sexual harassment, leading to her suspension.

Despite attempts by Ric Dalby and Cassie Turner to mediate, Diesel insists Sally confess love for him in exchange for withdrawing the complaint. He escalates matters by stealing Sally’s locket and fabricating emails implicating her. Investigator Carl Summons discovers discrepancies when a photo of Diesel is found inside Sally’s locket during the inquiry.

Diesel later takes Sally’s infant daughter hostage, threatening harm unless Sally admits love for him. Flynn intervenes during Diesel’s attempt to flee with the child, resulting in Diesel’s arrest. He confesses to framing Sally and making false allegations against her. During a visit from Sally in custody, Diesel acknowledges his unhealthy obsession and apologizes before being transferred for psychiatric treatment.

Amanda Vale

Amanda Vale, brought to life by Holly Brisley, made her initial appearance on 30 June 2005 and departed in 2007, with brief comebacks in 2008 and 2009. Brisley characterized Amanda as a quintessential attention-seeker who skillfully manipulates those around her to achieve her desires. During her 2009 return, the storyline incorporated Brisley’s real-life pregnancy. For her portrayal, she was nominated for the "Best Bitch" category at the 2007 Inside Soap Awards.

Aden Jefferies

Aden Jefferies, portrayed by Todd Lasance, first appeared on 4 August 2005 as a recurring figure connected to Cassie Turner’s narratives. Although Lasance initially auditioned for a different role, he was elevated to the main cast in 2007. He announced his intention to leave in 2009 to explore career opportunities in Los Angeles, with his final filming session occurring in January 2010. Lasance described Aden as a "total bad-arse," deliberately avoiding transforming him into a conventional hero. His work earned nominations for "Best Bad Boy" at the 2008 Inside Soap Awards and won him "Most Popular Actor" at the 2009 Logie Awards, followed by another nomination in 2010.

Jack Holden

Jack Holden, enacted by Paul O'Brien, debuted on 5 August 2005 and exited the series on 28 November 2008. O'Brien garnered significant praise, winning the 2006 Logie Award for "Most Popular New Male Talent" and receiving nominations for "Most Popular Actor" in both 2007 and 2008. At the 2007 Inside Soap Awards, he and co-star Jodi Gordon were recognized with a nomination for "Best Storyline" centered on Jack and Martha’s wedding. In 2008, O'Brien earned further nominations for "Best Actor," "Sexiest Male," and alongside Gordon for "Best Couple," as well as a nod for "Best On-Screen Partnership" at the inaugural Digital Spy Soap Awards.

Tony Holden

Tony Holden, played by Jon Sivewright, first appeared on screen on 5 August 2005 and remained until his departure on 11 August 2010. By the time of his exit, Sivewright was tied as the second longest-serving male cast member. Tony’s story arcs primarily explored themes of grief and his dedication as a family man. After co-star Amy Mathews left the show, producers opted to write Tony out as well. The official series website emphasizes Tony's kindness, empathy, and optimistic nature despite facing personal challenges. Key plotlines included reversing a vasectomy to start a family with his on-screen spouse, Rachel Armstrong.

Lucas Holden

Lucas Holden, portrayed by Rhys Wakefield, made his debut on 5 August 2005 and exited on 14 February 2008. Wakefield was nominated for Most Popular New Male Talent at the 2006 Logie Awards for this role. One critic labeled Lucas as a "stroppy lad," highlighting his typical teenage rebellion. In 2007, both Home and Away and the Seven Network were reprimanded by the ACMA due to airing suggestive scenes in episodes rated G. This included episode 4358 (21 February 2007), which depicted Lucas and Belle deciding to engage in sexual activity. ACMA ruled that this content was too explicit for the classification, constituting a breach of broadcasting standards.

Michael Abraham

Michael "Jonah" Abraham, portrayed by James Mitchell, made his debut on 4 November 2005.

Michael is introduced as the son of Mumma Rose (Linden Wilkinson), who leads a cult known as "The Believers." The cult coerces Tasha Andrews (Isabel Lucas) into joining, with Mumma Rose orchestrating a plan for Jonah to father Tasha’s child. Initially compliant, Jonah eventually resists and attempts to flee with Tasha, but both are captured. After their rescue, Jonah and Mumma Rose are taken into custody.

Released on parole the following year, Jonah returns using his given name, Michael. It is revealed that Mumma Rose adopted him at age five and subjected him to brainwashing. His infertility confirms that he did not assault Tasha. Despite suspicion from the community, Michael secures employment as a farmhand for Bruce Campbell (Chris Haywood). After an altercation with Martha MacKenzie (Jodi Gordon), they become stranded together overnight, which sparks a complicated relationship.

The bond between Michael and Martha encounters difficulties, including jealousy related to her ex-husband Jack Holden’s (Paul O'Brien) engagement to Sam Tolhurst (Jessica Chapnik). Following a jealous attack on Jack by Michael, Martha plans to leave town with him; however, Michael ultimately leaves alone, recognizing he cannot compete with Jack.

Mumma Rose

Mumma Rose (birth name Florence White), played by Linden Wilkinson, first appeared on 17 November 2005. Wilkinson had previously appeared in the series as Katherine Walker in 1996.

Mumma Rose heads the cult called The Believers and recruits Tasha Andrews through her son Jonah Abraham (James Mitchell). Despite doubts expressed by Tasha’s friends and boyfriend Robbie Hunter (Jason Smith), Mumma Rose manipulates events, including pushing Robbie into a river to hinder his efforts to intervene.

When Rebecca Tate warns Robbie about Mumma Rose’s intention for Tasha to become "The Chosen One" who will bear Jonah's child, Mumma Rose orchestrates Rebecca’s abduction and denies involvement when questioned by authorities. Martha MacKenzie (Jodi Gordon) attempts to penetrate the cult to rescue Tasha but fails to gather sufficient evidence.

Mumma Rose administers drugs to both Jonah and Tasha to facilitate impregnation without their awareness. After a thwarted escape and subsequent capture, she arranges a purification ritual involving fire. Tasha manages to turn the cult members against Mumma Rose, resulting in her arrest; however, she later escapes custody.

Several months later, Mumma Rose returns and takes Tasha and Martha hostage, trying to induce labor. She kidnaps Rachel Armstrong (Amy Mathews) to coerce cooperation but is apprehended after a nurse alerts law enforcement.

With assistance from Charity Fernbrook (Charlotte Gregg), Mumma Rose abducts Tasha's newborn daughter, Ella Hunter, intending to perform a cleansing fire ritual. Charity eventually has a change of heart and informs police during the hostage crisis. Mumma Rose is captured after a confrontation and committed to a secure psychiatric institution.

A writer from the Daily Record described Mumma Rose as "sinister."

Others

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Circumstances
11 January–31 March	Greg Hill	Alex Sideratos	Greg works as a physician at Northern Districts Hospital, providing care to significant characters such as Leah Patterson and Sally Fletcher during serious medical crises.
13–28 January	Gus Phillips	Peter Lamb	Gus, the estranged father of Kane Phillips, has a history marked by abuse and financial troubles. His illicit actions result in Kane’s wrongful detainment, affecting local relationships.
14 January–1 April	Marc Edwards	Christopher Hobbs	Arriving after a bushfire, Marc reconnects with Josie Russell and becomes involved in blackmail concerning her past. His arc concludes with his murder and being framed for a bombing incident.
18 January–1 March	Anna McMann	Andrea Moor	Anna holds the position of Administrator at Northern Districts Hospital, managing surgical teams and operations, including those involving Flynn Saunders.
26 January–23 February	Greg Harvey	Steve Vella	Greg is a criminal figure who threatens Gus Phillips and frames Kane Phillips, shaping the local crime storyline.
26 January–12 September 2008	Lara Fitzgerald	Rebecca George	Lara serves as a constable at Yabbie Creek Police Station, playing integral roles in law enforcement plots and mentoring successors like Charlie Buckton.
4–7 February	Benny "Red" Barron	Colin Borgonon	Benny pilots a charter flight that crashes, leading to his death and impacting multiple main characters.
17–25 February	Arthur Gordon	Alan McGuiness	Arthur is a journalist who exploits an online dating connection to gather evidence related to the Summer Bay Stalker investigation.
3–25 March	Lisa Stanniford	Zoe Tuckwell-Smith	Lisa engages in a relationship with Scott Hunter while concealing her marital status, which leads to her eventual exit from Summer Bay.
7 March 2005 – 15 February 2017, 6 February 2020	Celebrant Claire	Mary Regan	A community celebrant who officiates key weddings and funerals, contributing to local events over an extended period.
12 March–9 April 2008	Darren McGrath	Kim Knuckey	Darren operates as Senior Constable at Yabbie Creek Police Station, participating in various case investigations.
17 March	Alan Stanniford	Don Atkinson	Alan visits Summer Bay unaware of his wife’s infidelity, adding complexity to personal storylines.
18 March–26 April	Joy Foxton	Elaine Lee	Joy organizes the revival of the "Miss Groper" pageant before suffering a fatal stroke.
28 March–16 September	Alison Free	Larisa Chen	Alison serves as a doctor at Northern Districts Hospital, managing critical patient care and uncovering vital paternity information before dying in a car crash.
6–12 April	Samantha Morton	Felicity King	Samantha briefly dates Robbie Hunter to provoke jealousy, influencing interpersonal dynamics.
11 April–3 August	Clare Brody	Katrina Campbell	Clare holds the role of Senior Detective investigating the Summer Bay Stalker case and develops a complicated relationship with Peter Baker.
11 April 2005 – 30 May 2006	Dale Browning	Barry Shepherd	Manager of a local storage facility linked to the discovery of bomb-making materials during the stalker investigation.
15–26 April	Ben Foxton	Craig Elliot	Ben’s history of abuse impacts his niece Cassie Turner and prompts police involvement.
25 April	Pauline Bennett	Beth Armstrong		Carla Bennett	Ashleigh Johnson		Liam Bennett	Uncredited
	3 May	Zoe McCallister	Uncredited
	9 May–7 June	Jason Pappa	Joshua Biagi
20–23 May	Jim Wallace	Harold Hopkins
1–13 June	Callan Sherman	Kain O'Keeffe
7–16 June	Carl Summons	John O'Hare
9–10 June	Mystery Man	Lleyton Hewitt
10–14 June	Terry Rawlings	Laurence Coy
16 June–5 July	Noelene Baker	Kris McQuade
24 June–14 July	Troy Peters	Christian Willis
4–5 July	Kevin Baker	Andy Anderson
22–23 July	Judith Lane	Jane Fullerton Smith
22–23 July	Michael Maleto	Antony Grey
3 August 2005 – 20 June 2006	Kevin Green	Scott Hall-Watson
9–24 August	Tom Anderson	Don Halbert
10 August	Harry Chambers	Rodney Dobsen
12–25 August	Leo Simms	Johann Walravan
15–23 August	Lorraine Robertson	Gael Ballantyne
23 August	Brian Robertson	Paul Coolahan
2 September–1 November	Corey Henderson	Adam Saunders
9–13 September	Sean Jefferies	Gabriel Egan
18 September 2005 – 14 February 2006	Greg Matthews	Josef Ber	Doctor diagnosing Flynn Saunders’ terminal melanoma; present at significant medical events including Flynn's funeral.|
27 September		Len Green	Gary Baxter	Local mayor framed by Josh West to manipulate mayoral election outcomes.|
29 September		Pat McGrath	Uncredited	Wife of Darren McGrath; appears socially alongside other characters at Noah's bar.|
13 October–25 November		Kylie Kopperton	Leah Etkind	Employee at nudist camp influencing Kim Hyde’s drug use leading to an overdose incident.|
19 October–8 November		Bert Biddle	Zachary Garred	Intern at Northern Districts Hospital inadvertently involved in paternity test deception.|
25 October–25 November		Noah Hunter	Various actors	Newborn son of Hayley Lawson central to paternity dispute resolved through medical testing.|
28 October 2005 – 19 January 2006		Dudley Shepherd	Terry Serio	Bookmaker entangled in Dan Baker’s gambling debts resulting in kidnapping and hostage scenarios.|
28–29 October		David Knotts	Alan Dukes	Gun dealer facilitating illegal firearm transactions impacting Martha MacKenzie’s storyline.|
9–22 November		Jimmy Knox	Paul Caesar	Associate of Dudley Shepherd enforcing debt collection on Dan Baker.|
11 November 2005 – 19 March 2012		Derek Young	Charlie Hopkins	Physician at Northern Districts Hospital appearing during Flynn Saunders’ retirement due to illness.|
11 November 2005 – 2 October 2006		Charity Fernbrook	Charlotte Gregg	Member of The Believers cult involved in kidnapping and child custody disputes within the community.|