Margaret Lynch (Home and Away)

Josh Webb

Josh Webb, brought to life by Erik Mitsak, made his first appearance on 7 February 1991 as the show's notorious "resident troublemaker." A former inmate currently out on bail, Josh finds it difficult to abandon his criminal ways. Known for his quick wit and street smarts, he has a background involving car theft and manipulation. His innocent appearance often helps him avoid detection, and he frequently takes advantage of his mother Gerry (portrayed by Julie Godfrey), deceiving her to further his own agenda.

As the elder sibling of Rachel Webb (Beth Champion), Josh forms a connection with her boyfriend Blake Dean (Les Hill). He organizes a party attended by Blake, Rachel's sister Karen Dean (Belinda Jarrett), and their peers, which culminates in a drug-related police raid. Upon learning about Blake and Rachel's relationship, Josh assaults Blake and subsequently frames Adam Cameron (Mat Stevenson) for theft. Once his schemes are uncovered, Josh is incarcerated.

Following his release, Josh pretends to have reformed and tricks Blake and Adam into joining him on a camping trip with the intent to murder them. The plan fails, resulting in his return to custody. Erik Mitsak departed the series in early 1992 through an off-screen exit that left the character’s fate open-ended.

Cynthia Ross

Cynthia Ross, portrayed by Belinda Giblin, made her debut on 11 February 1991. Giblin’s casting and the introduction of Cynthia were publicized in the 29 December 1990 edition of TV Week. Cynthia is introduced as the mother of Haydn Ross (Andrew Hill) and the former spouse of Michael Ross (Dennis Coard). She arrives in Summer Bay with the intention of disrupting Michael’s relationship with Pippa Fletcher (Debra Lawrence). Haydn attempts to reconcile his parents, but when this effort fails and he runs away, Cynthia takes him back to the city for several weeks. Her final appearance aired on 6 March 1991.

Nick Parrish

Nick Parrish, played by Bruce Roberts, first appeared on screen on 4 March 1991. Roberts was cast just one day after completing drama school. He exited the series in 1994 to relocate to the United Kingdom with his partner, Suzanne Dando. During his time on the show, Roberts received significant fan correspondence from the UK, including an unusual letter from a woman named "Kate" who declared their forthcoming marriage.

Sam Marshall

Sam Marshall, portrayed by Ryan Clark, was introduced on 3 April 1991. Clark was seven years old when he landed the role and balanced filming three days per week alongside his schooling, supported by an on-set tutor. He left in 2000 to explore other career opportunities but made a brief return in 2005 to celebrate the show’s milestone 4000th episode. Glenn Wheeler from The Morning Show cited Sam as part of one of Australian television’s most cherished families over ten years. The character gained particular popularity among teenage female viewers, with MSN recognizing Clark as one of Australia’s teen heartthrobs during the 1990s.

Julie Gibson

Julie Gibson, enacted by Naomi Watts, first appeared on 23 April 1991. Her casting was announced in TV Week on 16 March 1991, emphasizing her portrayal of a paraplegic character. Watts undertook extensive preparation, spending several weeks confined to a wheelchair prior to filming.

Julie's storyline focuses on her romantic involvement with Nick Parrish (Bruce Roberts), which faces resistance from her brother Revhead (Gavin Harrison) because of Nick’s role as a police officer. Despite Revhead’s interference attempts, Julie and Nick conclude their relationship amicably, acknowledging they are better suited as friends. Watts later described this period as "six miserable weeks."

Paralyzed due to a car accident during her youth, Julie grapples with family challenges following her father Alec’s death from a heart attack. After parting ways with Nick, she chooses to leave Summer Bay to attend university in the city, assuring Revhead that she is capable of independence despite his concerns.

Lucinda Croft

Lucinda "Lou" Croft, brought to life by Dee Smart, made her first appearance on 13 June 1991 and exited the series in 1992. Smart, a drama student from Sydney, landed her initial acting role through this character, originally committing to a two-year contract but departing after just eight months. Her performance contributed significantly to Lucinda becoming one of the most beloved figures in Home and Away.

David Croft

David Croft, portrayed by Guy Pearce, was introduced on 19 July 1991 and last seen on 21 August 1991. As Donald Fisher’s nephew and Lucinda Croft’s brother, Pearce’s character was featured for a six-week duration. David comes into the storyline seeking reconciliation with his estranged sister but soon engages in a contentious romance with Sophie Simpson, which is met with resistance from her foster parents due to their age gap.

The relationship concludes suddenly when David is killed in a collision caused by an oncoming vehicle. Following his death, Sophie’s pregnancy prompts her to relocate closer to David’s mother. While Pearce’s rising fame was noted, critics offered mixed reactions to the plotline, some finding it lackluster. The episode depicting David’s tragic accident was later recognized by Channel 5 as one of their standout Home and Away episodes.

Ryan Lee

Ryan Lee, enacted by Alistair MacDougall, appeared from 22 August 1991 until 27 November 1992. After leaving the show, MacDougall expressed openness to returning for a guest spot if the character were reimagined as an antagonist. An Inside Soap journalist referred to Ryan as a "wealthy troublemaker".

Finlay Roberts

Finlay Roberts, played by Tina Thomsen, debuted on 18 September 1991 and remained until 1994, with subsequent guest roles in 1996 and 1997. Thomsen moved from Brisbane to Sydney for this part while still in her teens. She attributed her achievements to strong self-discipline supported by her family.

Greg Marshall

Greg Marshall, portrayed by Ross Newton, first appeared on 20 September 1991. Newton departed in 1993 but returned briefly in 2000. He described joining Home and Away as a pivotal moment during the show’s ascent in popularity. Glenn Wheeler remarked that Greg was a member of one of Australian television's "much loved families".

Simon Fitzgerald

Simon Fitzgerald, played by Richard Norton, first appeared on 25 September 1991 and exited on 24 July 1992. Norton joined Home and Away following a year-long stint on rival soap Neighbours. Brendon Williams from the Daily Mirror described Norton as "a major success" in this role.

Irene Roberts

Irene Roberts made her debut on 29 October, initially portrayed by Jacqui Phillips before Lynne McGranger took over the role. McGranger earned a nomination for "Funniest Performance" at the 2007 Inside Soap Awards. The Sydney Morning Herald identifies Irene as one of the show's three enduring "legacy characters," alongside Alf and Colleen. According to Holy Soap, Irene’s most memorable moment involved being attacked by the former wife of her ex-partner Ken.

Damian Roberts

Damian Roberts, brought to life by Matt Doran, first appeared on 6 November 1991. Doran secured a regular role from 1992 through 1995, with occasional guest spots continuing until 1996. In 1997 flashbacks, a young Damian was depicted by Ben Hamilton. Upon his returns, Damian’s look evolved, notably adopting dreadlocks, signaling a departure from his previously neat-cut image. The role significantly enhanced Doran's popularity, particularly among female viewers. Critics highlighted the character’s absence of major romantic arcs and often described him as chronically unfortunate.

Others

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Context
15–16 January	Jack Cody	Colin Taylor	Interested in purchasing the Beach House but withdraws after discovering its poor condition and a related fraud.
15–16 January	Helen Cody	Jan Adele	Connected to Jack Cody in the property transaction.
16 January	Peter	Scott Kelly	Friend of Pippa Fletcher who declines to buy an old gypsy caravan intended for his children’s home.
21 January	Jake Wood	Frankie Davidson	Neighbor attempting to buy a caravan; deal ends humorously involving a goat swap.
22 January	Postmaster Bagley	Ron Gaist	Delivers HSC exam results, confirming passes for main characters.
30 January–7 April 1993	Louise Scott	Elaine Hudson	Foster care official managing cases including Sam Nicholls and Tracey Turner; assists Angel Brooks with housing.
4 February–28 March	Tony Clark	Rob Hunter	Real estate agent managing the sale of the Stewart store.
6 February–17 April	Rachel Webb	Beth Champion	Dates Blake Dean; relationship strained by family criminal issues; leaves Summer Bay, leaving Blake heartbroken.
8–27 February	Roy Jackson	Fredric Abbott	Local farmer leasing land to Ben and Carly Lucini.
8–14 February	Betty Jackson	Marie Armstrong	Encourages Carly Lucini to take charge of the farm operations.
8 March–8 April	Gerry Webb	Julie Godfrey	Mother of Rachel and Josh Webb; disapproves of Rachel’s relationship and moves away following Josh’s arrest.
19 March–3 May	Mark Smith	Greg Hatton	Member of Summer Bay High swim team; has a brief romantic involvement with Karen Dean.
27 March–13 May	Rodney White	Lester Morris	Headmaster competing with Donald Fisher; involved in both social and professional disputes.
27 March	Val White	May Howlett	Wife of Rodney White; experiences frustration during social events due to her husband’s distractions.
11 April–18 July	Jackie Nicholls	Erica Williams	Sam Nicholls’ mother; faces custody challenges resulting in Sam’s foster care under Bobby Simpson.
18 April	Vet	Michael Beckley	Visits Lucini farm concerning poultry health issues.
22 April	Smart Alec no.1	Adam Garcia	Swim team member who mocks others about their diving abilities.
30 April	Celebrant	Carmel Mullin	Officiates Michael Ross and Pippa Fletcher’s wedding at Summer Bay House.
30 April–1 May	Military Police	Leo Taylor, Timothy Sullivan	Arrest Ben Lucini for AWOL during wedding reception; charges are subsequently dropped.
8–21 May	Alec Gibson	David Baldwyn	Father of Revhead and Julie Gibson; dies following a heart attack.
10–24 May	Jean Chambers	Maggie Kirkpatrick	Marilyn Chambers’ aunt; creates tension during fostering arrangements but reveals vital information about Marilyn’s biological parents.
22 May–21 June	Kenny Gibbs	David Field	Janitor who sells an old car to Blake Dean and Haydn Ross.
20 June–3 July	Max Riley & Heather Riley	Bruce Venables & Lynne Porteous	Couple mistakenly believed by Marilyn Chambers to be her biological parents; depart after actual parents arrive with proof.
5 June–11 July	Margaret Lynch	Gennie Nevinson	Year 11 personal development teacher fixated on Sophie Simpson due to past trauma; leaves after conflicts arise.
5 June	Mrs Clifton & Stanley Clifton	Marianne Krogdahl & Brett Caroll	Family incorrectly identified by Marilyn Chambers as her own, leading to disappointment.
7 June–10 July	Tracey Turner	Tania Martin	Fostered by Pippa Ross and Michael Ross; conflicts with Sophie Simpson lead to her transfer to another home.
2–3 July	George Davidson & Heather Davidson	Doug Scroope & Lynne Rainbow	Marilyn Chambers’ biological parents; traveling performers who exploit her, causing Marilyn to reject them.
23 July–14 August	Diane Robertson & Peter Mansell	Hanna McLeod & Troy O'Hearn	Classmates vying for attention at Summer Bay High; involved in social rivalries including events surrounding Sally Fletcher’s birthday party.
30 July–21 August	Constable Rogers	Dominic Purcell	Police officer assisting Nick Parrish; attends fatal car accident involving key characters.
2 August–2 October	Martin Bradley & Lois Crawford	John Bonney & Tina Bursill	Education department head overseeing Summer Bay High; appoints Lois Crawford as Head Teacher whose strict approach provokes community backlash leading to her resignation.
11–12 September	Isabelle Britton	Collette Roberts	Police officer briefly dating Nick Parrish to incite jealousy; relationship complicated by Nick’s lingering feelings for another woman.
3–9 October	Sharyn McKinley & Annette Hodges	Liza Witt & Kylle Hogart	Year 11 students resisting advances from Blake Dean and Simon Fitzgerald, resulting in disciplinary action at Summer Bay High.
6–28 November	Bill Fitzgerald	Terry Bader	Simon Fitzgerald’s father involved in business dealings with locals; leaves town after conflict and is later imprisoned for fraud before reconnecting with Simon.
14 November	Ian Gardiner, Elaine Gardiner & Susie Gardiner, portrayed by Andrew S. Gilbert, Lisabeth Kennely, Lauren Snell respectively, are central to a domestic violence storyline addressed by Constable Nick Parrish. Ian assaults Donald Fisher during intervention attempts.

References

• Kercher, John. The Official Home and Away Annual. Grandreams Ltd, 1993. ISBN 0-86227-954-2

External links

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