Martin Chester

Neighbours

Company type	Soap opera
Industry	Television
Founded	March 18, 1985 (1985-03-18)
Founder	Reg Watson
Headquarters	Australia
Area served	Australia, international

Neighbours is a soap opera from Australia, created by Reg Watson, which first broadcast on 18 March 1985. This compilation highlights characters who were introduced during 1999, all introduced under the guidance of executive producer Stanley Walsh. The fifteenth season commenced on 18 January 1999. Notable introductions include Bess O'Brien in February, Peter Hannay in May, Martin Chester arriving in July, and in September, the arrivals of Daniel Fitzgerald, Teabag Teasdale, and Teresa Bell. October brought the first appearances of Charlie Thorpe as well as the Scully family: parents Joe and Lyn, alongside their daughters Stephanie, Felicity, and Michelle.

Bess O'Brien

Bess O'Brien, played by Diana McLean, made her first appearance on 8 February 1999. She is the mother of the already established character Sarah Beaumont (Nicola Charles). As an environmental campaigner, Bess had devoted much of her time to activism rather than parenting, which caused friction when she visited Erinsborough. Despite their difficult past, Bess was intent on repairing her relationship with Sarah and offering support amid recent difficulties.

Upon arrival, Bess delivers a speech and seeks to reconnect with Sarah, who confides about a challenging year that ended with her dismissal from a hospital position. Utilizing her network, Bess helps accelerate Sarah’s appeal process and fosters connections with locals such as Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne). Nevertheless, Sarah harbors resentment over Bess’s absence during her childhood and declines invitations to join Greenpeace, emphasizing her commitment to direct aid. Eventually, they reconcile over a shared meal.

Together they visit Bess’s contacts in the countryside before she is summoned to a conference in New Zealand. Opting to stay longer, Bess aids Sarah in fundraising initiatives and assists Sarah’s housemate Joel Samuels (Daniel MacPherson) in regaining employment. After their bond strengthens, Bess returns home. Subsequently, she sends her friend Peter Hannay (Nick Carrafa) to check on Sarah; this leads to their engagement. Bess misses the wedding due to a missed flight.

Peter Hannay

Peter Hannay, portrayed by Nick Carrafa, was introduced on 17 May 1999. Carrafa had previously appeared on Neighbours as Tony Romeo back in 1987. Peter entered the storyline as a romantic interest for established character Sarah Beaumont (Nicola Charles) with an initial twelve-week guest role. According to Carrafa, Peter was acquainted with Sarah’s mother, who encouraged him to visit Sarah in Erinsborough. Their relationship quickly blossomed based on shared passions.

Following a rapid romance, Peter and Sarah became engaged. Although Sarah still had unresolved feelings for Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher), she married an enamored Peter just one month later. Peter nearly discovered Sarah exchanging a farewell kiss with Karl before the couple departed overseas on 13 July 1999. When Charles reprised her role in 2013, it was revealed that Sarah and Peter had two children but were no longer together.

Carrafa briefly returned to the role in November 2016 for an unexpected comeback. Peter came back to Erinsborough to collect his son Angus Beaumont-Hannay (Jai Waetford) and take him to Sydney. Angus was initially upset about Peter’s absence during a recent emergency but they reconciled. Peter expressed gratitude toward Karl and Susan for their support of Angus and disclosed that he would be based in Sydney due to employment with the Flying Doctors.

A contributor to Inside Soap described Peter as "dashing" and "hunky," while another commentator hoped he would be the doctor who could "finally heal Sarah's broken heart."

Martin Chester

Martin Chester, brought to life by Gil Tucker, made his first appearance on 29 July 1999. As a former university acquaintance of Karl and Susan Kennedy, Martin had a brief romantic history with Susan and was a member of Karl's band, The Right Prescription. When he arrives in Erinsborough for professional reasons, he reconnects with Susan, who is healing from Karl's infidelity. Martin discloses that he has recently separated from his wife and admits his feelings for Susan during Karl's absence. Despite the temptation, Susan decides to protect her marriage. Their clandestine encounters are uncovered by Tad Reeves, leading Susan to reflect on the potential fallout if Karl were to learn the truth. When Karl suggests reuniting the band, Martin reveals he is leaving for Alice Springs. Subsequently, Susan confesses to Karl about her near-affair with Martin.

Daniel Fitzgerald

Daniel "Dan" Fitzgerald, portrayed by Brett Tucker, was introduced on 1 September 1999 as a high school educator. His primary storyline centered around a romantic involvement with housemate Tess Bell (Krista Vendy). Tess had feelings for Dan but was hurt when he began dating Steph Scully (Carla Bonner). Upon Tess revealing her affection, Dan admitted sharing those feelings but hesitated because Tess was married. He later moved out to pursue their relationship more openly. As a recurring character at the time, the continuation of this plotline remained uncertain. Tucker returned to the role in 2007 when Neighbours shifted focus toward deeper character development and family themes, with Dan taking on a counseling position at the school. Michael Lallo from The Age commented that Tucker added to the program’s "hunk quotient" through his portrayal of Dan.

Teabag Teasdale

John "Teabag" Teasdale, played by Nathan Phillips, first appeared on 3 September 1999. At that time a drama student new to acting, Phillips was initially cast for a single line but soon secured a contract lasting two months. Tony Johnston characterized Teabag as the series’ temporary "resident bad boy," known for stirring up trouble. Phillips later mentioned that this role remains one he is recognized for.

Teabag forms friendships with Hannah Martin (Rebecca Ritters), Paul McClain (Jansen Spencer), and Tad Reeves (Jonathon Dutton) after they transform a local allotment into a BMX track. He teams up with Tad on a BMX film project, which begins with them vandalizing the Grease Monkeys shop window. Admiring Hannah’s BMX talent, he gives her his old bike and offers her accommodation at his shared house when she needs to move.

Conflicts emerge when Teabag brags about local thefts and admits breaking into Billy Kennedy's (Jesse Spencer) workshop. After Hannah, Paul, and Tad inform Billy, he reports Teabag to the authorities. Feeling betrayed, Teabag targets Paul and Tad with harassment and reveals that the bike he gave Hannah was stolen property. He also disrupts the Bishops by blasting loud music in their Coffee Shop, placing false food orders, and sending numerous pizzas to their residence.

In retaliation, Paul and Tad dismantle Teabag’s bike and vandalize his home, prompting police involvement. Eventually, hostilities subside. On Hannah’s final day at school, Teabag presents her with a bracelet and ceases his disruptive behavior towards the Bishops.

Teresa Bell

Teresa "Tess" Bell, brought to life by Krista Vendy, made her first appearance on 17 September 1999. Vendy earned the part after three rounds of auditions, emerging as one of three finalists. Initially named Tamsin Flynn, the character underwent a transformation into Tess, shifting from a barmaid to a 24-year-old married English teacher pursuing independence in Erinsborough. Tess secured a position at the local high school and developed romantic feelings for her housemate Daniel Fitzgerald (Brett Tucker). Gina Leros of The Sun-Herald recognized Vendy as one of the standout performers in Neighbours during the year 2000.

Charlie Thorpe

Charlie Thorpe, portrayed by Katrina Baylis, first appeared on 8 October 1999. Following a swift romantic involvement with fellow student Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney), Charlie proposed marriage to him. Moloney explained that Toadie was initially taken aback but accepted, partly due to being emotionally vulnerable at the time. Baylis described Charlie as mercurial—sometimes endearing, other times manipulative—and revealed that her character was exploiting Toadie to address an expiring work visa.

Charlie encountered Toadie after he accidentally collected the wrong dog from the pound; she introduced herself while returning his dog, Bob. Presenting herself as a London law student, Charlie disclosed she was still cohabiting with her ex-boyfriend, Rupert (Craig Blumeris), who refused to leave. After a brief stay with Toadie and resistance from his housemates Joel and Lance, Charlie and Toadie decided to rent a flat together. Charlie initiated the engagement, which Toadie later reciprocated. However, when Toadie uncovered Charlie’s ulterior visa-related motives and lack of true affection—confirmed by Rupert’s warning and a love letter—he confronted her. Subsequently, Charlie left his life for good.

Joe Scully

Joe Scully, enacted by Shane Connor, debuted on 20 October 1999. Connor was invited to audition and accepted partly due to the opportunity to work alongside Janet Andrewartha, who portrayed his on-screen spouse Lyn. Signed on for three years with options to extend, Joe was characterized as a builder with a tough demeanor and disregard for others’ opinions. He was often described as someone who was "permanently missing-in-action."

Lyn Scully

Lynette "Lyn" Scully, played by Janet Andrewartha, also first appeared on 20 October 1999. Seeking a role based in Melbourne to remain close to her children, Andrewartha secured the part following a screen test. Lyn struggled with self-esteem issues and challenges fitting in, which caused friction with Joe. Her combination of vulnerability and determination resonated with audiences, representing endurance through both personal and professional difficulties.

Stephanie Scully

Stephanie Jo "Steph" Scully, portrayed by Carla Bonner, debuted on 20 October 1999. The role was initially played by Emma Roche, who departed after three weeks; Bonner won the role after two auditions. As the eldest sibling in the Scully family, Steph was characterized as a tomboy with an affinity for motorbikes and leather attire. She quickly gained popularity and formed a close friendship with Libby Kennedy. Steph topped viewer polls in both 2002 and 2010 as the most favored Neighbours character, underscoring her strong appeal among audiences.

Felicity Scully

Felicity Jane "Flick" Scully, portrayed by Holly Valance, made her first appearance on 20 October 1999. Valance, who had minimal prior audition experience, discovered she had landed the role three months later. She described the casting as surprising, especially since she had been a longtime admirer of the series. Although sixteen at the time of casting—slightly older than her character—Felicity was depicted as a committed feminist with a pronounced social awareness. Valance received a nomination for Most Popular New Female Talent at the 2000 Logie Awards.

Michelle Scully

Michelle Scully, enacted by Kate Keltie, debuted on 20 October 1999. Keltie was thirteen when selected to play the youngest sibling in the Scully family, a year senior to her character’s age. Michelle was portrayed as imaginative and mischievous, with Keltie describing her as a "spoiled little princess" who frequently escaped consequences for telling fibs. She shared a close bond with her father and was recognized for her intelligence, maturity, and persistence. One of her early story arcs involved developing a crush on neighbour Paul McClain (Jansen Spencer).

Additional Characters

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Description
19 January–6 May	Jade Cleary	Talia Krape	Jade expresses romantic interest in Paul McClain during the absence of his girlfriend Hannah Martin.
19 January–3 February	Gary O'Neil	Kevin Hopkins	Gary arrives on Ramsay Street to visit Anne Wilkinson, claiming to be the great nephew of Lily Madigan. Although initially avoiding disputes over Lily's property bequeathed to Anne, he ultimately takes legal action but is unsuccessful. Anne subsequently leases the house.
19 January–9 March	George Caruana	Greg Ross	As a radio presenter at Eden Hills' Uni FM, George provokes Susan Kennedy and Joel Samuels with controversial broadcasts, resulting in his removal following offensive remarks.
26 January	Brenda Samuels	Pixie Jones	Mother of Joel Samuels, Brenda arrives from Tasmania after his accident. She initially disapproves of his athletic pursuits but departs after witnessing community support.
29 January–16 February	Andy Sisson	Martin Copping	A homeless street musician who has conflicts with Karl Kennedy over suspicions of drug use and theft of prescriptions; refuses further contact after a public altercation.
3–26 February 2001	Cluney Webb	Cecilia Specht	Physiotherapist at Erinsborough Hospital assisting Joel Samuels with knee rehabilitation and later treating Lou Carpenter’s back issues.
24 February–26 October	Allie Bentley	Jade Butler	Friend of Hannah Martin, Allie shows romantic interest in Tad Reeves and subsequently in Paul McClain.
10–18 March	Alita Zagarnauskas	Annabel Mounsey	A friend to Ruth Wilkinson, Alita is appointed Vice-Principal at Erinsborough High despite concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
24 March–20 July	Jemma Acton	Jessica Gower	University peer of Lance Wilkinson, Jemma dates Joel Samuels and organizes the "Single and Suffering" Ball, where Lance and Amy Greenwood are crowned King and Queen.
31 March–28 June	Vincenzo Coletti	Tasos Petousis	Owner of a restaurant who employs Anne Wilkinson as a waitress; after initial difficulties, he sends her for training and shares a brief romantic moment observed by her boyfriend.
31 March 1999 – 14 March 2000	Damien Smith	John Ridley	Amy Greenwood’s airline colleague and partner; their relationship includes pregnancy and marriage in Fiji but ends due to Damien's later-revealed homosexuality.
8 April–12 July 2001	Frances Nagel	Judith Roberts	Eden University librarian who forms a friendship with Harold Bishop; their connection rekindles following Harold's wife's passing but dissolves due to tension involving Harold’s foster son.
18 May–16 September 2002	Ron Kirk	John Orcsik	Father of Drew Kirk residing in Oakey.
18 May–20 March 2001	Rose Kirk	Diana Greentree
18 May–16 September 2002, 7 March 2018	Dougal Kirk	Michael Barallon / Steven Bahnsen / Brandon Burns	Younger brother of Drew Kirk; initially unfriendly but later joins Drew in Erinsborough. After Drew’s death, Dougal runs his garage in Oakey and offers Drew’s son Ben an apprenticeship.

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Description
24 May	"Ruby Hanson"	"Leyden Brewer"	"Newborn child of Ray and Shelley Hanson; born during Oakey's Rodeo Ball event."
7 June–11 November	"Barry Reeves"	"Fred Barker"	"Tad Reeves’ father; informs Tad about his parents’ separation and later reveals Tad is adopted."
10 June–6 July	"Chloris Mott"	"Lise Rodgers"	"Assistant at a bridal shop involved in an incident copying dresses alongside Sarah Beaumont and Amy Greenwood."
17 June–24 February 2000	"Julia Burrows"	"Rhian Skirving / Ruth Callum"	"Briefly dates Lance Wilkinson after meeting during fruit-picking; ultimately rejects his advances."
23 June–24 September	"Becky Niedermyer"	"Diane Viduka"	"Year twelve student whom Tad Reeves attempts to impress by organizing a local concert."
24 June–3 August	"Megan Townsend"	"Allison Byrne"	"Dates Lance Wilkinson as part of a wager but develops genuine feelings; relationship ends following confrontation."
24 June–6 April 2000	"Gordon Collins"	"Chris Waters"	"Client of Philip Martin who influences Philip's social circle before their association ends over ethical concerns."
9 July–17 January 2000	"Kate Johns"	"Fiona Harris"	"Nurse at Erinsborough Hospital attending Sarah Beaumont’s hen party and treating Drew Kirk after fire injuries."
12–13 July	"Trent Rushworth"	"Christopher Lee"	"Friend and best man to Peter Hannay at his wedding to Sarah Beaumont."
20–27 July	"Rachel Ball"	"Pip Sallabank"	"University student who exposes Megan Townsend’s bet concerning Lance Wilkinson."
9 August–10 November	"David 'Fanto' Hodges"	"Daniel Dinnen"	"Art student interested in Anne Wilkinson; relationship ends due to financial deception and inappropriate conduct."
16 August–15 March 2000	"Craig Harrison"	"Stephen Macklin"	"Disruptive patron at Lou's Place rejected by Steph Scully and Tess Bell at nightclub."
18 August–7 June 2002	"Maurie Ryan"	"Neil Fletcher"	"Builder known for unsafe practices; clashes with Billy Kennedy and Karl Kennedy; faces legal action."
23 August–27 September	"Sam Rodgers"	"Matthew Albert"	"Apprentice injured due to unsafe conditions under Maurie Ryan; investigation leads to Maurie's arrest."
31 August–11 November	"Desi Grant"	"Katherine McLean"	"Portia Grant's daughter managing Grease Monkeys restaurant competing against Lassiter's Coffee Shop."
6 September–26 July 2001	'Ralph Walker'	'Paul Collins'	'Police officer involved in various investigations including youth-related incidents.'
8 September–29 April 2002	'Cindy Lipman'	'Natasha Pincus'	'Photographer responsible for nude calendar featuring Joel Samuels and later promotional images for Lassiter’s.'
28 September–26 June 2000	'Viv Garnett'	'Emma Buckland'	'Nurse attending patients such as Sam Rodgers and Drew Kirk at Erinsborough Hospital.'
29 September	'Steve Formosa'	'Cameron Knight'	'Stripper auditioning unsuccessfully for Natalie Rigby’s event; wishes luck to Joel Samuels afterward.'
29 September–20 October	'Natalie Rigby'	'Nicki Paull'	'Joel Samuels’ employer as barman; their relationship ends due to concerns about age difference.'
4–15 October	'Liam Rigby'	'Damien Bodie'
11 October 1999 – 30 April 2007	'Lindsay Hall'	'Glenn Hunt'	'Salvation Army volunteer providing support to Harold Bishop through personal struggles.'
27 October 1999 – 2 February 2001	'Roy “Stanno” Stanley'	'Cameron Douglas'	'Biker companion of Stephanie Scully.'
2–3 November	'Katie Freeman'	'Nikki Visser'	'Potential tenant for Ramsay Street who departs after her boyfriend moves in.'
4 November–5 June 2002	'Bianca Nugent'	'Jane Harber'	'Friend of Michelle Scully involved in school disputes including teasing Boyd Hoyland.'
9 November	'Kurt Hodges'	'Paul Glen'	'Father of David Hodges; informs Anne Wilkinson about plans to demolish warehouse.'
10 November–5 September 2000	'Tim Harrison'	'Tom Budge'	'Student employed at Grease Monkeys providing insight into workplace conditions under Desi Grant.'
15 November	'Rupert Coburn'	'Craig Blumeris'	'Has a one-night stand with Charlie Thorpe who subsequently becomes obsessed with him.'
23 November–27 January 2000	'Chas Hancock'	'Don Hirst'	'Local councillor interviewed by Libby Kennedy; faces rumors regarding personal affairs.'

References

• Johnston, Tony. Neighbours: Two Decades on Ramsay Street. News Custom Publishing, 2005. ISBN 978-1-876176-78-5
• Mercado, Andrew. Super Aussie Soaps. Pluto Press Australia, 2004. ISBN 978-1-86403-191-1

External links

• Official AU Neighbours site: Characters and cast
• Official UK Neighbours site: Characters and cast
• Cast and characters at the Internet Movie Database