Len Baxter

Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart made her initial appearance between 25 January and 13 February 1989, portrayed by Alison Mulvaney. She was introduced through flashbacks as the first wife of Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher). The character returned on 27 March 2018, this time played by Belinda Giblin, who had previously appeared as Cynthia Ross in 1991. Meagher recommended Giblin for the part, describing her as "the ideal choice." Martha holds the record for the longest interval between appearances of any character on Home and Away.

Reintroduced during the show's 30th anniversary celebrations, Alf confides to their daughter Roo Stewart that Martha did not perish as previously thought but vanished due to personal unhappiness. Roo's efforts to locate her prove unsuccessful until Martha unexpectedly arrives in Summer Bay. After Alf contacts her, the two reconcile romantically. Meagher speculated that despite Alf's marriage to Ailsa Stewart, Martha might have been the love of his life. Martha later departs temporarily after her borderline personality disorder triggers anxiety.

Martha was married to Alf and is the mother of their daughter Roo. Thought to have drowned in a sailing mishap in 1985, she is seen in flashbacks when Bobby Simpson reads her diary. It is revealed that Martha was acquainted with Bobby’s biological mother and arranged Bobby’s adoption.

Years later, following an explosion that leaves Alf fearing for his life, he tells Roo that Martha is actually alive. Martha arrives in Summer Bay and meets Ryder Jackson. She explains that she left due to her mental health challenges but sought treatment and was apprehensive about returning. Although Roo invites her to dinner with Alf, Martha initially declines. She later apologizes to Alf and provides Roo with her contact information before leaving once more.

Several months later, Alf attempts to reach Martha but abruptly ends the call. She returns seeking clarity; Alf admits he missed her presence. Their relationship rekindles; Martha paints a portrait of Alf and confesses her love for him. Struggling with anxiety related to BPD and difficulties reaching Roo, Martha decides to return home, with Alf joining her afterward. Upon coming back to Summer Bay, they announce their relationship publicly; Martha leaves shortly thereafter but soon returns with the intention of staying permanently.

Initially finding the relocation difficult, Martha discusses her mental health with Alex Neilson, who refers her to a specialist. After the deaths of Mason Morgan and Robbo, Alf proposes again; although hesitant at first, Martha accepts and they marry a week later before briefly leaving the Bay.

Martha owns a home and studio in Merimbula, which causes friction with Alf, who wants her to sell it. She explains that it serves as a safety net for managing her BPD. When contacted by her son Kieran Baldivis, she confides in Irene Roberts and visits Kieran in Merimbula before informing Alf and Roo about him. Kieran soon arrives in Summer Bay.

Martha continues residing in Merimbula while Alf frequently visits.

Vicki Baxter

Vicki Baxter, brought to life by Nana Coburn, first appeared on 22 February 1989. Coburn’s father, Norman Coburn, also featured on the show portraying headmaster Donald Fisher. David Brown of TV Week labeled Vicki as "Summer Bay's resident trouble-maker." Although Coburn initially disliked playing a character who was widely disliked, she eventually came to enjoy the role. She appeared semi-regularly and filmed her final scenes in June 1990, reflecting that the role offered steady employment and valuable experience. She particularly enjoyed filming a fight scene with Dannii Minogue shortly before leaving.

Vicki acted as an antagonist within Steven Matheson's class at Summer Bay High, bullying classmates and frequently clashing with Emma Jackson. After unsuccessfully attempting to get teacher Grant Mitchell to tutor her, she falsely accused him of sexual misconduct, resulting in his suspension. Emma forced Vicki to admit the truth, clearing Grant’s name. Vicki then framed Emma for stealing exam papers, which led to Emma’s expulsion. With assistance from Steven, Paul Jensen, and Vicki’s cousin Anna, Vicki’s deceit was uncovered. Faced with evidence against her, Vicki was expelled from school.

Rebecca Fisher

Rebecca Fisher, portrayed by Jane Hall, made her debut on 3 April 1989 as the daughter of the school principal, Donald Fisher. During her visit to Summer Bay, she became romantically involved with Steven Matheson. The producers noted the strong on-screen rapport between Hall and Adam Willits and contemplated bringing Rebecca back occasionally. In 1994, the character was temporarily recast with Danielle Carter for a seven-week period. Two years afterward, Belinda Emmett assumed the role, receiving multiple Logie Award nominations: Most Popular New Talent (1997), Most Popular Actress (1998 and 1999), and the prestigious Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television.

Marilyn Chambers

Marilyn Chambers, enacted by Emily Symons, first appeared on 18 May 1989. Symons departed from the series in 1992 but returned for a tenure spanning 1995 to 1999. Although Dannii Minogue initially tried out for Marilyn, she was instead cast as Emma Jackson, while Symons secured Marilyn’s part. According to Holy Soap, Marilyn was characterized as a "bubbly" and "air-headed blonde beautician."

Duncan Stewart

Duncan Stewart entered the storyline 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, brought to life by Mat Stevenson, first appeared on 28 June 1989. Prior to this role, Stevenson had appeared on rival soap Neighbours portraying a minor criminal. He relocated from Melbourne to Sydney to take on this part and exited the show in 1994. Stevenson described Adam as "somewhat of a layabout" who favors relaxation over responsibility, contrasting with his own more conscientious personality. An Inside Soap columnist depicted Adam as a "former joker" and "carefree individual." Stevenson returned for a guest appearance in 1999 and contemplated rejoining full-time after enjoying the experience.

Viv Newton

Viv Newton, played by Mouche Phillips, made her first appearance on 5 July 1989 and departed on 25 May 1990. Phillips began filming soon after Justine Clarke exited the series. In an interview with Look-in, she mentioned that she preferred remaining active during filming, often being difficult to find because she was not where expected.

Emma Jackson

Emma Jackson, portrayed by Dannii Minogue, debuted on 22 September 1989 and left the show on 22 August 1990. Minogue originally auditioned for the role of Marilyn Chambers, but was cast as Emma instead. She exited after one year to focus on her music career. Despite rumors in 2007 about a possible return for the show's twentieth anniversary in 2008, she did not reprise her role. Minogue was nominated for "Most Popular Actress on Australian Television" at the 1989 Logie Awards for this character. Additionally, Holy Soap named her among Home and Away's "Sexiest girls ever."

Others

11 October 25 October 26 October–15 November 30 October–2 November 31 October

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Circumstances
25 January	Les Palmer	Graham Lancaster	Les appears in flashbacks as Celia Stewart’s deceased fiancé; their engagement celebration ends tragically when Les is later killed during the Vietnam War.
26 January–16 March	Nicholas Walsh	Robert Taylor	Engaged to Stacey Macklin upon arrival, Nicholas conspires with her father to acquire the caravan park. He falsely implicates Roo Stewart in poison pen letters, assaults Stacey but is ultimately stopped by Tom Fletcher.
1 February–5 September	Kim Patterson	Jacqui Townsend	Younger sibling of Alison and Mav Patterson; attends Summer Bay Primary School and discovers Morag Bellingham’s memoir draft alongside Sally Fletcher.
13 February–20 March	Richard Bellingham	John Bonney	Husband of Morag Bellingham for two decades; their marriage dissolves following revelations about Morag’s motherhood of Bobby Simpson.
20 February–21 November	James Donahue	Richard Morgan	A journalist investigating Morag Bellingham’s secret; manipulates locals and convinces Lance Smart to fabricate a shark sighting.
22 February–5 April	Leanne Dunn	Kylie Foster	Dates Martin Dibble but struggles with illiteracy; after conflicts involving Martin and her ex-boyfriend Meat Axe, she leaves town with Meat Axe, leaving Martin heartbroken.
1 March–12 November	Enid	Jan Oxenbould	Friend of Celia Stewart who participates in a community meeting concerning a local killer shark threat.
8 March	Nola Dibble	Denise Roberts	Mother of Martin Dibble who appears when he introduces Leanne Dunn to his family.
8 March	Scott Dibble	Uncredited	Brother of Martin Dibble attending a family gathering.
8 March	Errol Dibble	Uncredited	Another brother of Martin Dibble present at the family meal.
21 March–24 May	Nigel Taggart	Gary Down	Morag Bellingham’s blind former assistant; hired despite his disability, he mediates disputes before resigning to seek independence.
28 March	Ross Maybury	John Banas	Talk-show host interviewing Donald Fisher and Bobby Simpson regarding family secrets.
4–5 April	Meat Axe	Joseph Dicker	Leanne Dunn’s ex-boyfriend who fights Martin Dibble; Leanne leaves town with him despite his violent behavior.
18 April–17 August 1989, 8 September–23 October 1995	Brian "Dodge" Forbes	Kelly Dingwall	Troublemaker who steals from locals, causes a fatal fire, becomes fostered by the Fletchers, frames Simon Yates for arson, bullies Sally Fletcher, and is imprisoned for murder; paroled in 1995, commits further crimes before disappearing following a cliff confrontation.
20 April–16 May	Simon Yates	Christopher Saunders	Former convict employed at Bayside diner; dates Roo Stewart; harassed by Steven Matheson and framed for arson by Dodge; flees town after bail release.
2–9 May	Andrew Foley Senior	Alan Tobin	Estranged father seeking reconciliation with son Andrew before passing away; leaves Andrew an inheritance along with an apology letter.
10 May 1989 – 22 February 1990	Howard West	Richard Rowe	Childcare Services official responsible for placing Dodge Forbes with the Fletchers; intervenes in child abuse cases involving the Newton family; temporarily suspends Donald Fisher's guardianship amid legal issues.
11 May	Peter Braithwaite	Ron Blanchard	Insurance assessor skeptical about Celia Stewart's inflated claim following her store fire.
18–29 May	Kyoko Sakamoto	Yuka Mitani	Interpreter assisting Japanese clients visiting the Macklin family for business purposes.
2–8 June	Peter Bedford	Bevan Wilson	Investor involved in Macklin development project; initially reluctant to sign contract but persuaded by Martin Dibble.
2 June	Claire Bedford	Linda Anning	Peter Bedford’s wife attending dinner with the Fletchers.
8 June–18 July	Flynn	Mark McCann	Laborer working for Macklin corporation who leads a strike resolved through Roo Stewart’s negotiation; helps rescue Marilyn Chambers.
13 June	Jay Everett	Andrew Doyle	Motivational speaker temporarily managing Macklin development office; boosts staff morale except Roo Stewart during crisis period.
6 July–13 September	Nina Olivera	Raquel Suarstzman	Friend of Stacey Macklin; forms music group Image; leaves for employment in Los Angeles taking Stacey along later.
11 July	Beulah	Robyn Gurney	Homeless woman who assists Viv Newton during her period of homelessness.
19 July	Sgt. Col Baker	Simon Westaway	Police officer investigating Dodge Forbes over stolen car incident involving Steven Matheson taking responsibility.
21 July–1 August	John Newton	John Gregg	Reverend and abusive father of Viv and Tammy Newton; his mistreatment prompts intervention by authorities and results in custody battles resolved through social services.
27 July 1989 – 25 May 1990	Tammy Newton	Katy Edwards	Younger sister of Viv Newton who escapes abusive father John Newton; reunites with mother Angela and sister Viv to start fresh in Queensland.
9 August 1989 – 16 April 1990	Rex Wilson	Barry Donnelly	Matt Wilson’s uncle serving on local council; secures Matt a position as beach inspector; resigns following heart attack.
9 August	Freddie Hudson	Mark Arbib	Student visiting Andrew Foley’s youth advice center at Bayside diner.
18–31 August	Ross Keating	James Gleeson	Estranged uncle of Sally Keating seeking custody but ultimately respects her decision to remain with Fletchers; departs accompanied by wife Louise.
23–31 August	Louise Keating	Felicity Soper	Ross Keating’s wife and Sally Fletcher's aunt; infertile due to cancer surgery; supports Sally but leaves after she chooses to stay with Fletchers.
29 August 1989, 23 March 1990	Len Baxter	Uncredited Damian Cudmore	Father of Vicki Baxter demanding removal of teacher Grant Mitchell following false molestation accusations that are later withdrawn.
29 August–10 November	Danny Farnsworth	Justin Connor	Son of Gordon Farnsworth seeking revenge against Morag Bellingham for his father’s imprisonment and suicide; takes Morag hostage but flees after intervention by Bobby Simpson and Donald Fisher.
30 August 1989 – 8 July 1996	Chris Hale	John Meillon Jr.	Police constable involved in various investigations including arrests and accidents; confesses guilt over hit-and-run causing Shane Parrish's death leading to suspension from duty.
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 hematoma.
18–21 September	Ian McTavish	Noel Trevarthen	Scottish explorer searching for mythical "Summer Bay Bunyip"; departs after discovering it was a hoax involving Martin Dibble dressed up in costume.
20 September	Samantha Walker	Fiona Shannon	Youth worker informing Ailsa Stewart about niece Emma Jackson’s wish to live with her, revealing family estrangement details.
11–12 October	Millicent Staples, wealthy woman booking charter cruise with Adam Cameron; strands him on island by sailing off alone as part of trick.	Julie Haseler	Wealthy woman booking charter cruise with Adam Cameron who strands him on an island by sailing off alone as part of a trick.
Henry Whiting	Patrick Ward	Owner of hot dog stand selling business to Celia Stewart over competing offer from Lance Smart and Martin Dibble
Sylvia Wilson	Marie Armstrong	Wife of Rex Wilson and aunt to Matt Wilson appearing during council disputes regarding closure of hot dog stand
Rory Heywood	Gregor Jordan	Arrives claiming Fletcher family ties; integrates into surf club before being fatally attacked by shark prompting local efforts to capture it
Mick	Bruce Samazan	Friend of Andrew Foley whose drug addiction causes conflict with Stacey Macklin leading to property damage and departure
Chas	Pool player friend hustled by Mick during games at The Corner Pocket pool hall

External links

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