Ross Keating

Home and Away

Company type	Television series
Industry	Television soap opera
Founded	January 17, 1988 (1988-01-17)
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. Below is a catalog of characters who made their debut in 1989, listed by their initial appearance date, all introduced under the guidance of executive producer Des Monaghan. The show's second season commenced on 23 January 1989. The first new character introduced that year was Martha Stewart in January, followed by the schoolgirl Vicki Baxter in February. In April, Rebecca Fisher was added to the cast, with Emily Symons joining as Marilyn Chambers in May. June marked the birth of Duncan Stewart, son of Alf and Ailsa. Later that month, Mat Stevenson appeared as Adam Cameron. In July, Mouche Phillips began portraying Viv Newton, and September introduced Dannii Minogue as Emma Jackson.

Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart made her initial appearance between 25 January and 13 February 1989, played by Alison Mulvaney. She was originally presented as the first wife of Alf Stewart (portrayed by Ray Meagher) through flashback sequences. The character was revived on 27 March 2018 with Belinda Giblin assuming the role; Giblin had previously appeared on the show as Cynthia Ross in 1991. Ray Meagher recommended Giblin for the part, commending her as an ideal fit. Martha holds the distinction of having the longest interval between appearances on Home and Away.

Reintroduced during the series' 30th anniversary celebrations, Alf confides to their daughter Roo Stewart that Martha did not perish but vanished due to personal unhappiness. After Roo's unsuccessful efforts to locate her, Martha returns to Summer Bay. Following a phone call from Alf, she reenters the storyline leading to a renewed romantic relationship. Meagher characterized Martha as potentially Alf’s greatest love despite his marriage to Ailsa Stewart. Martha temporarily departs again after experiencing anxiety linked to her borderline personality disorder (BPD).

Martha was married to Alf and is mother to their daughter Ruth "Roo" Stewart (originally portrayed by Justine Clarke). Presumed dead following a sailing mishap in 1985, she was initially seen only in flashbacks through Bobby Simpson’s reading of her diary entries. It is disclosed that Martha was aware Alf’s sister was Bobby’s mother and had arranged for Bobby’s adoption.

Years later, Alf informs Roo that Martha is alive. Upon arriving at Summer Bay House, Martha is initially reluctant to reconnect but eventually reveals her diagnosis of BPD and explains that her departure stemmed from mental health challenges. Roo invites her to dine with Alf; Martha expresses regret toward Alf but leaves after Roo notes that her presence unsettles him.

Several months later, after limited contact with Alf, Martha returns once more to Summer Bay. They rekindle their relationship; Martha paints a portrait of Alf and confesses her enduring love for him. She suffers anxiety related to BPD but finds relief after a remote conversation with Roo and decides to return home with Alf joining her subsequently. They disclose their renewed relationship to Roo; Martha later moves back permanently.

Initially struggling with the relocation, Martha discusses her mental health with Alex Neilson, who refers her to a specialist. Following news of Mason Morgan and Robbo’s deaths, Alf proposes marriage; despite initial hesitation, Martha accepts. They marry and briefly leave before coming back.

Owning a home and art studio in Merimbula causes tension when Alf urges her to sell it; Martha explains it serves as a sanctuary for managing her BPD symptoms. She also reveals to Roo and Alf that she has a son named Kieran Baldivis, whose complicated history has kept him distant for years. Kieran eventually arrives in Summer Bay.

Martha continues residing in Merimbula while Alf frequently visits her there.

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 referred to Vicki as "Summer Bay's local troublemaker." Although Coburn was initially hesitant about accepting the role, she eventually appreciated playing a character with antagonistic traits. She maintained a semi-regular presence on the show until completing her final scenes in June 1990, reflecting that the role provided consistent work and valuable learning experiences. Among her favorite moments was a fight sequence with Dannii Minogue towards the end of her time on the series.

Within Summer Bay High, Vicki was known as a disruptive student in Steven Matheson’s class, often engaging in bullying and conflicts with classmates such as Carly Morris, Viv Newton, and Emma Jackson. She falsely accused teacher Grant Mitchell of sexual harassment, which led to his suspension; however, 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 teamed up with Vicki’s cousin Anna to uncover Vicki’s manipulations, ultimately leading to Vicki’s own expulsion.

Rebecca Fisher

Rebecca Fisher, portrayed by Jane Hall, appeared for the first time on 3 April 1989 as the daughter of school principal Donald Fisher. During her stay in Summer Bay, she became romantically involved with Steven Matheson. Producers observed strong chemistry between Hall and Adam Willits and contemplated occasional returns for Rebecca. The character was recast with Danielle Carter for a seven-week period in 1994. Later, in 1996, Belinda Emmett assumed the role and garnered several Logie Award nominations 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, enacted by Emily Symons, made her debut on 18 May 1989. Symons departed from the series in 1992 but returned between 1995 and 1999. Although Dannii Minogue initially auditioned for Marilyn, she was cast instead as Emma Jackson, leaving Symons to portray Marilyn. Holy Soap characterized Marilyn as a "bubbly" and "ditzy blonde beautician."

Duncan Stewart

Duncan Stewart first appeared on 14 June 1989 and was played by Brendan McKensy, whose portrayal earned him a nomination for Best Young Actor at the 1999 Inside Soap Awards.

Adam Cameron

Adam Cameron, portrayed by Mat Stevenson, made his debut on 28 June 1989. Stevenson, previously appearing as a guest on rival soap Neighbours, relocated from Melbourne to Sydney for this role. He exited the show in 1994. Stevenson described Adam as somewhat lazy but occasionally kind-hearted, preferring relaxation over responsibility. An Inside Soap columnist referred to Adam as a "former joker" and "carefree." Stevenson returned for a guest appearance in 1999, enjoying it and considering rejoining full-time.

Viv Newton

Viv Newton, played by Mouche Phillips, first appeared on 5 July 1989 and departed on 25 May 1990. Phillips started filming soon after co-star Justine Clarke left the series. In an interview with Look-in, she mentioned that she liked to remain active on set, which often led crew members to search for her due to her tendency to wander unpredictably.

Emma Jackson

Emma Jackson, portrayed by Dannii Minogue, was featured on the series from 22 September 1989 until 22 August 1990. Although Minogue initially tried out for the part of Marilyn Chambers, she was ultimately cast as Emma. After a year of acting on the show, she departed to focus on her music career. Despite speculation about her returning for the program's 20th anniversary in 2008, she did not make an appearance. Minogue earned a nomination for "Most Popular Actress on Australian Television" at the 1989 Logie Awards and was named by Holy Soap as one of Home and Away's most attractive female characters.

Others

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Description
25 January	Les Palmer	Graham Lancaster	Celia Stewart’s deceased fiancé featured in flashbacks from 1970; their engagement party ends in tragedy when Les dies during the Vietnam War.
26 January–16 March	Nicholas Walsh	Robert Taylor	Visitor to Summer Bay engaged to Stacey Macklin; collaborates with her father to acquire the caravan park, falsely accuses Roo Stewart of sending poison pen letters, and assaults Stacey before intervention by Tom Fletcher.
1 February–5 September	Kim Patterson	Jacqui Townsend	Alison Patterson’s younger sister who attends Summer Bay Primary; discovers Morag Bellingham’s memoirs stored on floppy disks and disputes local legends with Sally Fletcher.
13 February–20 March	Richard Bellingham	John Bonney	Morag Bellingham’s husband of two decades who separates from her following revelations about her motherhood of Bobby Simpson.
20 February–21 November	James Donahue	Richard Morgan	Journalist from The Daily Star investigating Morag Bellingham’s secret, manipulating residents to obtain information.
22 February–5 April	Leanne Dunn	Kylie Foster	Dates Martin Dibble, faces challenges with illiteracy, and eventually leaves with ex-boyfriend Meat Axe after a turbulent relationship.
1 March–12 November	Enid	Jan Oxenbould	Friend to Celia Stewart who takes part in a town meeting regarding a local shark threat.
8 March	Nola Dibble	Denise Roberts	Mother of Martin Dibble, appearing when Leanne Dunn is introduced to his family.
8 March	Scott Dibble	Uncredited	Brother of Martin Dibble present at a family dinner.
	Errol Dibble	Uncredited
21 March–24 May	Nigel Taggart	Gary Down	Personal assistant to Morag Bellingham who aids at the Blaxland mansion and politely declines Celia Stewart's romantic interest before resigning to gain independence.
28 March	Ross Maybury	John Banas	Host of 'The World Tonight' interviewing Donald Fisher and Bobby Simpson about a book and family revelations.
4–5 April	Meat Axe	Joseph Dicker	Leanne Dunn’s aggressive former boyfriend who fights Martin Dibble and eventually takes Leanne away.
18 April–17 August 1989, 8 September–23 October 1995	Brian "Dodge" Forbes	Kelly Dingwall	Troubled foster child involved in theft and arson that results in Philip Matheson’s death; bullies others before imprisonment. Returns on parole in 1995 seeking revenge by framing Steven Matheson for murder, disappearing after violent confrontation.
20 April–16 May	Simon Yates	Christopher Saunders	Ex-convict working at Bayside diner who dates Roo Stewart, is harassed by Steven Matheson, and is falsely accused of arson before fleeing town.
2–9 May	Andrew Foley Senior	Alan Tobin	Estranged father attempting reconciliation with Andrew Foley prior to his death; leaves an inheritance and apology letter.
10 May 1989 – 22 February 1990	Howard West	Richard Rowe	Representative from Department of Childcare Services managing foster placements and investigating child abuse allegations involving the Newton family and guardianship matters.
11 May	Peter Braithwaite	Ron Blanchard	Insurance assessor suspicious of Celia Stewart's claim following a store fire incident.
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 project whose initial skepticism is alleviated through encouragement from Martin Dibble.
2 June	Claire Bedford	Linda Anning	Wife of investor Peter Bedford attending dinner with the Fletcher family.
8 June–18 July	Flynn	Mark McCann	Laborer employed by Macklin corporation involved in strike resolved through Roo Stewart's negotiation; assists in rescue efforts involving Marilyn Chambers.
13 June	Jay Everett	Andrew Doyle	Motivational speaker temporarily managing Macklin office; influences Martin Dibble but fails to engage Roo Stewart during crisis events.
6 July–13 September	Nina Olivera	Raquel Suarstzman	Friend of Stacey Macklin who forms music group Image alongside Lance Smart, Martin Dibble, and Marilyn Chambers; later departs for promotion in Los Angeles inviting Stacey to join her.
11 July	Beulah	Robyn Gurney	Homeless woman assisting Viv Newton during her period living on the streets.
19 July	Sgt. Col Baker	Simon Westaway	Police officer questioning Brian "Dodge" Forbes regarding stolen car incident initially attributed to Steven Matheson.
21 July–1 August	John Newton	John Gregg	Reverend and abusive father of Viv and Tammy Newton; his mistreatment leads to intervention by authorities with custody disputes resolved through supervision orders and eventual relinquishment.
27 July 1989 – 25 May 1990	Tammy Newton	Katy Edwards	Younger sister of Viv Newton involved in custody battles due to paternal abuse; reunites with family following social worker locating their mother Angela Newton.
9 August 1989 – 16 April 1990	Rex Wilson	Barry Donnelly	Local council member employing Matt Wilson as beach inspector; closes Andrew Foley's advice centre; resigns after suffering 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	Estranged uncle of Sally Keating seeking custody; initially welcomed but departs after Sally chooses to remain with the Fletchers.
23–31 August	Louise Keating	Felicity Soper	Ross Keating’s wife unable to have children; forms bond with niece Sally while respecting her decision 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 by Vicki; teacher reinstated after truth revealed.
29 August–10 November	Danny Farnsworth	Justin Connor	Son of convicted Gordon Farnsworth seeking revenge on Morag Bellingham through threats and hostage-taking; dates Bobby Simpson before fleeing after psychotic episode intervention.
30 August 1989 – 8 July 1996	Chris Hale	John Meillon Jr.	Police constable promoted to sergeant involved in multiple investigations including arrests and hit-and-run causing Shane Parrish's death; confesses under guilt leading to suspension.
11 September	Doctor Ellis	Marilyn Allen	Hospital doctor arranging Tom Fletcher's transfer following heart attack episode.
11 September	Doctor Williamson	David Whitford	City physician diagnosing Tom Fletcher with intracerebral hematoma.
18–21 September	Ian McTavish	Noel Trevarthen	Scottish explorer searching for "Summer Bay Bunyip"; departs after discovering it was a hoax involving Martin Dibble costume.
20 September	Samantha Walker	Fiona Shannon	Youth worker informing Ailsa Stewart about niece Emma Jackson’s wish to live with her; reveals details about family estrangement.
11–12 October	Millicent Staples	Julie Haseler	Wealthy young woman booking charter cruise with Adam Cameron; deceives him by abandoning him stranded on an island after gaining trust.
11 October	Henry Whiting	Patrick Ward	Hot dog vendor approached by Lance Smart and Martin Dibble for business sale; sells instead to Celia Stewart.
25 October	Sylvia Wilson	Marie Armstrong	Wife of Rex Wilson seen during council disputes affecting local businesses including closure of Martin Dibble's hot dog stand.
26 October–15 November	Rory Heywood	Gregor Jordan	Visitor seeking Fletcher family believed connected to his father; irritates locals before dying in shark attack prompting community action against sharks.

External links

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