Rory Heywood

Home and Away
Company type	Television series
Industry	Television soap opera
Founded	January 17, 1988; 38 years ago
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 outlines the characters introduced during 1989, all under the guidance of executive producer Des Monaghan. The show's second season commenced on 23 January 1989. The first new character was Martha Stewart, who appeared in January, followed by the schoolgirl Vicki Baxter in February. In April, Rebecca Fisher made her debut, with Emily Symons joining the cast as Marilyn Chambers in May. June marked the birth of Duncan Stewart, the child of Alf and Ailsa. Later that month, Mat Stevenson began portraying Adam Cameron, while July introduced Mouche Phillips as Viv Newton. Finally, September saw the arrival of Dannii Minogue in the role of Emma Jackson.

Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart was initially featured between 25 January and 13 February 1989, played by Alison Mulvaney. She was presented as the first wife of Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher) through flashback sequences. The character returned on 27 March 2018 with Belinda Giblin taking over the role; Giblin had a previous appearance on the show in 1991. Ray Meagher recommended Giblin for this recast, describing her as "the perfect choice." Martha holds the distinction of having the longest interval between appearances on Home and Away.

Reintroduced during the program’s 30th anniversary celebrations, Martha was revealed to be alive despite being presumed drowned following a sailing mishap in 1985. Alf informs their daughter, Roo Stewart, that Martha vanished due to her unhappiness. Upon returning to Summer Bay, Martha reconnects with Roo and eventually rekindles her romantic relationship with Alf. She faces challenges related to borderline personality disorder (BPD), which triggers anxiety and complicates her personal interactions.

As Alf’s former spouse and mother to their daughter Ruth "Roo" Stewart, Martha initially appeared through diary entries and flashbacks. It was disclosed that she was aware of Bobby Simpson’s true parentage and facilitated her adoption. Years later, after Roo seeks her out, Martha explains that her prolonged absence stemmed from struggles with BPD and fear of confronting it directly. Following treatment, she strives to mend family bonds but initially departs again due to anxiety issues.

Subsequently, Alf reaches out to Martha, leading to a renewed relationship highlighted by intimate moments such as Alf sitting for a portrait painted by her. Though reconnecting with Roo proves difficult at first—given Roo's remote teaching commitments—Martha manages her anxiety with Alf’s support. She opts to remain in Marimbula while keeping connections alive in Summer Bay.

Their revived romance culminates in marriage after Martha’s initial hesitation. They briefly travel to visit Alf’s sisters but continue maintaining residences both in Summer Bay and Marimbula. This arrangement occasionally causes tension because of Martha’s requirement for a secure environment related to her BPD.

Martha discloses to both Roo and Alf that she has a son named Kieran Baldivis. His complex absence from her life contributed to her fear of losing her family once again. After Kieran reaches out, he visits Summer Bay, broadening Martha’s familial network.

Currently, Martha primarily resides in Merimbula while Alf makes frequent visits, balancing their personal lives alongside professional commitments across both locations.

Vicki Baxter

Vicki Baxter, brought to life by Nana Coburn, made her first appearance on 22 February 1989. Coburn's father, Norman Coburn, was also part of the cast, portraying the headmaster Donald Fisher. David Brown from TV Week labeled Vicki as "Summer Bay's local troublemaker." Although Coburn initially had reservations about the role, she eventually appreciated playing a villainous character. She appeared intermittently until she filmed her concluding scenes in June 1990, valuing the role for providing consistent work and learning opportunities. One memorable event was filming a fight sequence with Dannii Minogue shortly before her departure.

Vicki served as an antagonist within Steven Matheson's class at Summer Bay High. She targeted classmates like Carly Morris and Viv Newton with bullying and frequently came into conflict with Emma Jackson. After an unsuccessful attempt to pursue teacher Grant Mitchell, Vicki falsely accused him of sexual harassment, which led to his suspension. Emma compelled Vicki to admit the truth, resulting in Grant’s reinstatement. Subsequently, Vicki framed Emma for stealing exam papers, causing Emma’s expulsion. Steven and Paul Jensen uncovered Vicki’s deceit by reaching out to her cousin Anna, which ultimately culminated in Vicki’s expulsion.

Rebecca Fisher

Rebecca Fisher, portrayed by Jane Hall, debuted on 3 April 1989 as the daughter of principal Donald Fisher. During her initial stay in Summer Bay, she developed a romantic connection with Steven Matheson. The producers appreciated the chemistry between Hall and Adam Willits and contemplated occasional returns for Rebecca. The character was recast twice: Danielle Carter took over for a seven-week period in 1994, followed by Belinda Emmett in 1996. Emmett’s interpretation earned her nominations for Logie Awards including Most Popular New Talent (1997), Most Popular Actress (1998 and 1999), as well as the 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 from the series in 1992 but returned between 1995 and 1999. Dannii Minogue originally auditioned for Marilyn but was cast instead as Emma Jackson, which allowed Symons to secure the Marilyn role. According to Holy Soap, Marilyn is described as a "bubbly" and "dizzy blonde beautician."

Duncan Stewart

Duncan Stewart made his debut on 14 June 1989, portrayed by Brendan McKensy, whose performance earned him a nomination for Best Young Actor at the 1999 Inside Soap Awards.

Adam Cameron

Adam Cameron, enacted by Mat Stevenson, first appeared on 28 June 1989. Stevenson had previously appeared on rival soap Neighbours playing a minor criminal role. 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 dependable personality. An Inside Soap columnist referred to Adam as a "former joker" and "carefree spirit." Stevenson returned briefly in 1999 and considered asking to rejoin full-time due to his fondness for the character.

Viv Newton

Viv Newton, brought to life by Mouche Phillips, made her first appearance on 5 July 1989 and departed on 25 May 1990. Phillips began filming soon after Justine Clarke left the series, gaining a reputation for her energetic activity on set, often keeping herself so occupied that crew members found it challenging to locate her.

Emma Jackson

Emma Jackson, portrayed by Dannii Minogue, was introduced on 22 September 1989 and exited on 22 August 1990. Minogue originally auditioned for the role of Marilyn Chambers but was ultimately cast as Emma. After a year with the show, she departed to focus on her music career. Although there were speculations about her returning for the 20th anniversary in 2008, she did not make an appearance. Minogue received a nomination for "Most Popular Actress on Australian Television" at the 1989 Logie Awards. Her role as Emma helped secure her status among Home and Away's "Sexiest girls ever," as recognized by Holy Soap.

Others

31 October|||Chas|||Richard Huggett||| Pool player hustled by Mick at The Corner Pocket; warns friends Lance Smart and Martin Dibble against losing money gambling against Mick. 17 November|||Rosemary White|||Zoe Bertram||| Rory Heywood's sister revealing his true identity as Colin following his death. 21 November 1989–22 January 1990|||Zac Burgess|||Mark Conroy||| Shark hunter charging high fees for capturing shark responsible for Rory Heywood's death; exposes illegal dumping attracting sharks while causing tension through unwanted advances toward Carly Morris and Pippa Fletcher before leaving after confrontation with Tom Fletcher. 12 December|||Drew Howard|||Ignatius Jones||| Producer of Marilyn Chambers’ game show "Cheap Shots"; attempts to embarrass locals on national TV but ends up humiliated instead.

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Description
25 January	Les Palmer	Graham Lancaster	Les, Celia Stewart’s fiancé who appears in flashbacks from 1970, tragically dies in the Vietnam War shortly after their engagement celebration.
26 January–16 March	Nicholas Walsh	Robert Taylor	Nicholas arrives in Summer Bay to visit Stacey Macklin and announces their engagement to Philip Matheson. He conspires with Stacey's father to acquire the caravan park but encounters resistance. Nicholas falsely accuses Roo Stewart of sending poison pen letters and assaults Stacey before being stopped by Tom Fletcher.
1 February–5 September	Kim Patterson	Jacqui Townsend	Kim, Alison Patterson’s younger sister and a student at Summer Bay Primary, discovers Morag Bellingham's memoir manuscript and debates local myths with Sally Fletcher.
13 February–20 March	Richard Bellingham	John Bonney	Morag Bellingham’s husband of two decades; they separate following revelations about Morag’s motherhood of Bobby Simpson. He warns Roo Stewart to keep her distance from Morag before departing.
20 February–21 November	James Donahue	Richard Morgan	A journalist investigating Morag Bellingham’s secret; he 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, who attempts to deter her by introducing his rough family. Illiterate initially, she learns to read with Matt Wilson’s help. After a violent confrontation involving her ex-boyfriend Meat Axe, Leanne leaves with him, breaking Martin’s heart.
1 March–12 November	Enid	Jan Oxenbould	A friend of Celia Stewart who takes part in a community meeting concerning a local killer shark.
8 March	Nola Dibble	Denise Roberts	Martin Dibble's mother; appears during a family dinner organized to discourage Leanne Dunn's aspirations.
8 March	Scott Dibble	Uncredited	Brother of Martin Dibble; present at the family dinner.
8 March	Errol Dibble	Uncredited	Another brother of Martin Dibble attending the family dinner.
21 March–24 May	Nigel Taggart	Gary Down	Former assistant to Morag Bellingham who returns to assist at Blaxland mansion. Forms a friendship with Celia Stewart but resigns seeking independence.
28 March	Ross Maybury	John Banas	Talk-show host interviewing Donald Fisher and Bobby Simpson about Donald’s son’s novel and Morag Bellingham’s motherhood revelation.
4–5 April	Meat Axe	Joseph Dicker	Leanne Dunn’s aggressive ex-boyfriend who fights Martin Dibble and ultimately leaves with Leanne after she ends things with Martin.
18 April–17 August 1989, 8 September–23 October 1995	Brian "Dodge" Forbes	Kelly Dingwall	A troublemaker who steals from locals and causes a fire resulting in Philip Matheson's death; becomes foster child of the Fletchers. He manipulates Steven Matheson into framing Simon Yates, bullies Sally Fletcher, and is eventually arrested for murder. Released on parole in 1995, Dodge kills 'Mud' Roberts, frames Steven again, kidnaps Kelly Watson, and disappears after a cliffside confrontation.
20 April–16 May	Simon Yates	Christopher Saunders	An ex-convict working at Bayside diner who dates Roo Stewart despite warnings; falsely accused of arson due to Dodge's schemes; leaves town after Alf Stewart bails him out.
2–9 May	Andrew Foley Senior	Alan Tobin	Andrew Foley’s estranged father seeking reconciliation before his death; leaves Andrew a significant inheritance along with an apology letter.
10 May 1989 – 22 February 1990	Howard West	Richard Rowe	Child Care Services official who places Dodge Forbes with the Fletchers and investigates John Newton’s abuse of his daughters; temporarily revokes Donald Fisher's guardianship during murder charges but restores it after his acquittal.
11 May	Peter Braithwaite	Ron Blanchard	Insurance assessor skeptical of Celia Stewart’s claim for double compensation following a store fire.
18–29 May	Kyoko Sakamoto	Yuka Mitani	Interpreter for Japanese clients visiting the Macklin family for business purposes.
2–8 June	Peter Bedford	Bevan Wilson	Investor in Macklin development; initially refuses to sign contract after criticizing Frank Morgan but is convinced by Martin Dibble.
2 June	Claire Bedford	Linda Anning	Peter Bedford’s wife accompanying him to dinner with the Fletchers.
8 June–18 July	Flynn	Mark McCann	Labourer employed by Macklin corporation involved in resolving a strike through Roo Stewart's negotiation; assists in rescuing Marilyn Chambers.
13 June	Jay Everett	Andrew Doyle	Motivational speaker temporarily managing Macklin development office; energizes some staff but fails to motivate Roo Stewart during a crisis.
6 July–13 September	Nina Olivera	Raquel Suarstzman	Friend of Stacey Macklin who forms the music group Image alongside Lance Smart, Martin Dibble, and Marilyn Chambers; leaves for promotion work in Los Angeles and invites Stacey to join later.
11 July	Beulah	Robyn Gurney	Homeless woman aiding Viv Newton during her period living on the streets.
19 July	Sgt. Col Baker	Simon Westaway	Police officer questioning Brian "Dodge" Forbes regarding a stolen car accident; Steven Matheson initially takes responsibility.
21 July–1 August	John Newton	John Gregg	Reverend and abusive father of Viv and Tammy Newton; confines Viv in a cupboard and later loses custody following intervention by authorities and community support.
27 July 1989 – 25 May 1990	Tammy Newton	Katy Edwards	Viv Newton’s younger sister manipulated by their father John but eventually 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 who secures him employment as beach inspector and shuts down Andrew Foley’s advice centre; resigns from council after suffering 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	Sally Keating’s estranged uncle seeking custody; ultimately accepts Sally remaining with the Fletchers.
23–31 August	Louise Keating	Felicity Soper	Ross Keating’s wife unable to have children due to medical reasons; supports Sally Keating but respects her decision to stay with the 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; Grant reinstated once allegations are disproven.
29 August–10 November	Danny Farnsworth	Justin Connor	Gordon Farnsworth's son seeking revenge on Morag Bellingham by working as her assistant while secretly threatening her; dates Bobby Simpson before fleeing town after exhibiting psychotic behavior.
30 August 1989 – 8 July 1996	Chris Hale	John Meillon Jr.	Police constable involved in multiple investigations over several years; committed to justice despite personal guilt connected to incidents involving Shane Parrish.
11 September	Doctor Ellis	Marilyn Allen	Hospital physician arranging Tom Fletcher's transfer following his heart attack.
11 September	Doctor Williamson	David Whitford	Diagnoses Tom Fletcher with intracerebral hematoma at city hospital.
18–21 September	Ian McTavish	Noel Trevarthen	Scottish explorer searching for the mythical "Summer Bay Bunyip"; departs after uncovering it was a hoax involving Martin Dibble in costume.
20 September	Samantha Walker	Fiona Shannon	Youth worker informing Ailsa Stewart that niece Emma Jackson wishes to live with her, revealing previously unknown family estrangement to Ailsa.
11–12 October	Millicent Staples	Julie Haseler	Wealthy young woman booking a charter cruise with Adam Cameron; strands him on an island by sailing away alone under false pretenses.
11 October	Henry Whiting	Patrick Ward	Owner of local hot dog stand selling business to Celia Stewart after rejecting offers from Lance Smart and Martin Dibble.
25 October	Sylvia Wilson	Marie Armstrong	Wife of Rex Wilson seen at Stewart store amid council disputes related to hot dog stand closures affecting Martin Dibble.
26 October–15 November	Rory Heywood	Gregor Jordan	Visitor searching for the Fletchers under false pretenses; irritates locals before being killed by a shark—his death triggers shark hunting efforts led by Zac Burgess.
30 October–2 November	Mick	Bruce Samazan	Friend of Andrew Foley whose drug addiction causes tension with Stacey Macklin before leaving town after property damage incidents.

External links

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