Tammy Newton

Home and Away
Company type	Television series
Industry	Television, Entertainment
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. New characters introduced throughout the year include Martha Stewart in January, the schoolgirl Vicki Baxter in February, Rebecca Fisher in April, Marilyn Chambers in May, the birth of Duncan Stewart in June, Adam Cameron later that month, Viv Newton in July, and finally Emma Jackson in September.

Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart made her debut appearance from 25 January to 13 February 1989, portrayed by Alison Mulvaney. Initially introduced through flashbacks as the first wife of Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher), Martha was reintroduced to the series on 27 March 2018 with Belinda Giblin taking over the role. Giblin had previously featured as Cynthia Ross in 1991. Ray Meagher recommended Giblin for this part, 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, it was revealed that Martha had not died as previously assumed but had instead vanished due to dissatisfaction with her life circumstances. Their daughter Roo Stewart (Georgie Parker) had searched unsuccessfully for her until Martha returned on her own accord. Following a phone call from Alf, their relationship rekindled romantically. Meagher regarded Martha as probably Alf’s greatest love despite his marriage to Ailsa Stewart (Judy Nunn). Martha’s storyline encompassed her battle with borderline personality disorder (BPD), which led to anxiety and occasional absences.

Martha was married to Alf Stewart and mother to their daughter Ruth "Roo" Stewart (originally portrayed by Justine Clarke). After being presumed drowned in a sailing accident in 1985, Martha was initially seen only through flashbacks when Bobby Simpson (Nicolle Dickson) read entries from her diary. It was disclosed that Martha was aware Alf’s sister Morag Bellingham (Cornelia Frances) was Bobby’s biological mother and had arranged for Bobby’s adoption.

Years later, after Alf feared he might die from an injury caused by an explosion, he confided to Roo that Martha was still alive. Martha then arrived at Summer Bay House, meeting Ryder Jackson (Lukas Radovich) before reuniting with Alf and Roo. She explained she had left due to exhaustion and later revealed her diagnosis of BPD. Despite undergoing treatment, feelings of guilt and fear delayed her return as she knew Roo would be well cared for. Roo honored her by naming her daughter Martha MacKenzie.

Martha expressed remorse to Alf and attributed her departure to mental health challenges. Roo encouraged Martha to leave when her presence upset Alf but promised ongoing visits. Months later, Alf reached out to Martha but initially rejected her contact; however, he eventually admitted missing her. Their relationship blossomed anew, with Martha painting Alf’s portrait and confessing her love for him. Her BPD-related anxiety triggered panic when she could not reach Roo during remote teaching; she decided to return home but resumed her relationship with Alf upon returning.

They eventually informed Roo about their renewed relationship status. Martha left temporarily but came back intending to stay; Alf invited her to move in permanently. Initially finding adjustment difficult, she sought mental health advice from Alex Neilson (Zoe Ventoura) and was referred to a specialist.

Following news of Mason Morgan's (Orpheus Pledger) and Robbo's (Jake Ryan) deaths, Alf proposed marriage again; Martha accepted after a formal proposal ceremony. They married a week later and briefly departed Summer Bay together. Martha maintained a residence and art studio in Merimbula, which created some tension as Alf wished for her to sell it. She described Merimbula as a sanctuary vital for managing her BPD.

Martha was contacted by her son Kieran Baldivis (Rick Donald) and confided in Irene Roberts (Lynne McGranger) before visiting him in Merimbula. Upon returning, she revealed Kieran’s existence to Alf and Roo, acknowledging their strained relationship due to his prolonged absence. She admitted fearing loss if they learned about Kieran but disclosed he wanted to meet them; he soon arrived at Summer Bay.

Currently, Martha continues living 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 labeled Vicki as "Summer Bay's local troublemaker." Although initially hesitant to embody a character who was not well-liked, Coburn eventually embraced the role. She featured on a semi-regular basis and completed her final scenes in June 1990, valuing the consistent employment and the opportunity to develop her skills. One memorable moment for her was filming a fight sequence alongside Dannii Minogue shortly before her departure.

Within Summer Bay High, Vicki played the role of an antagonist in Steven Matheson’s class. She was notorious for bullying classmates such as Viv Newton and clashing with Emma Jackson. After unsuccessfully attempting to get tutoring from teacher Grant Mitchell, Vicki falsely accused him of sexual harassment, which led to his suspension. Emma compelled Vicki to admit the truth, reinstating Grant’s position. Subsequently, Vicki framed Emma for theft, causing Emma’s expulsion. Steven and Paul Jensen uncovered Vicki’s manipulations by involving her cousin Anna. Once confronted with the evidence, Vicki herself was expelled from school.

Rebecca Fisher

Rebecca Fisher, portrayed by Jane Hall, entered the series on 3 April 1989 as the daughter of principal Donald Fisher. During her stay in Summer Bay, she became romantically involved with Steven Matheson. The producers appreciated the on-screen chemistry between Hall and Adam Willits and contemplated having Rebecca return occasionally. The character was recast with Danielle Carter for a seven-week period in 1994 and later by Belinda Emmett in 1996. Emmett’s performance garnered several Logie Award nominations including Most Popular New Talent (1997), Most Popular Actress (1998 and 1999), and the prestigious 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 show in 1992 but made a comeback from 1995 through 1999. Dannii Minogue initially auditioned for Marilyn but was instead cast as Emma Jackson, while Symons took on Marilyn’s role. According to Holy Soap, Marilyn was characterized as a "bubbly" and "dizzy blonde beautician."

Duncan Stewart

Duncan Stewart was introduced on 14 June 1989. Brendan McKensy’s portrayal earned him a nomination for Best Young Actor at the 1999 Inside Soap Awards.

Adam Cameron

Adam Cameron, played by Mat Stevenson, debuted on 28 June 1989. Prior to this role, Stevenson had appeared as a minor criminal in the rival soap Neighbours. He relocated from Melbourne to Sydney to film Home and Away and exited in 1994. Stevenson described Adam as somewhat lazy but occasionally kind-hearted, preferring relaxation over responsibility. An Inside Soap writer referred to him as a "former joker" and "carefree" individual. Stevenson returned briefly in 1999 and expressed interest in rejoining full-time, noting that little had changed within the show since his exit.

Viv Newton

Viv Newton, portrayed by Mouche Phillips, first appeared on 5 July 1989 and departed on 25 May 1990. Phillips began filming soon after Justine Clarke left the cast. She mentioned to Look-in magazine that she enjoyed keeping busy during filming, often leading crew members to search for her when she wandered off-script.

Emma Jackson

Emma Jackson, portrayed by Dannii Minogue, made her debut on 22 September 1989 and exited the series on 22 August 1990. Although Minogue originally auditioned for the part of Marilyn Chambers, she was ultimately cast as Emma. After a year on the show, she chose to leave to concentrate on her music career. Despite speculation in 2007 about a possible return for the program’s 20th anniversary in 2008, Minogue did not reprise her role. Her performance earned her a nomination for "Most Popular Actress on Australian Television" at the 1989 Logie Awards, and she was also recognized by Holy Soap as one of Home and Away's "Sexiest girls ever."

Others

31 October || Chas, pool hall operator hustled by Mick leading Martin Dibble into a cautionary high-stakes gambling situation against Mick.

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Storyline Details
25 January	Les Palmer	Graham Lancaster	Les, the late fiancé of Celia Stewart, appears in flashbacks set in 1970. Their engagement celebration is overshadowed by tragedy when Les is killed during the Vietnam War.
26 January–16 March	Nicholas Walsh	Robert Taylor	Engaged to Stacey Macklin, Nicholas arrives in Summer Bay and conspires with her father to acquire the caravan park. He falsely accuses Roo Stewart of sending poison pen letters, assaults Stacey, and is eventually stopped by Tom Fletcher.
1 February–5 September	Kim Patterson	Jacqui Townsend	Younger sister to Alison Patterson, Kim attends Summer Bay Primary School and uncovers Morag Bellingham's memoir manuscript. She also engages in debates about local legends with Sally Fletcher.
13 February–20 March	Richard Bellingham	John Bonney	Morag Bellingham’s husband of two decades who separates from her after discovering her secret regarding maternity. Before departing, he advises Roo Stewart to steer clear of Morag.
20 February–21 November	James Donahue	Richard Morgan	A journalist from The Daily Star investigating Morag's history, manipulating locals for stories including convincing Lance Smart to fabricate a shark sighting.
22 February–5 April	Leanne Dunn	Kylie Foster	Leanne dates Martin Dibble but struggles with illiteracy. After a turbulent relationship, she leaves Martin for her abusive ex-boyfriend Meat Axe.
1 March–12 November	Enid	Jan Oxenbould	A friend of Celia Stewart who participates in a town meeting addressing a local shark threat.
8 March	Nola Dibble	Denise Roberts	Martin Dibble’s mother, who meets Leanne Dunn during a family dinner aimed at discouraging marriage plans.
8 March	Scott Dibble	Uncredited	Brother of Martin Dibble present at the family dinner.
8 March	Errol Dibble	Uncredited
21 March–24 May	Nigel Taggart	Gary Down	Former assistant to Morag Bellingham who works at Blaxland mansion, befriends Celia Stewart but resigns to pursue independence.
28 March	Ross Maybury	John Banas	Talk-show host interviewing Donald Fisher and Bobby Simpson regarding a novel and Morag's maternity revelation.
4–5 April	Meat Axe	Joseph Dicker	Leanne Dunn’s ex-boyfriend who fights Martin Dibble and reclaims Leanne despite her attempts to end their relationship.
18 April–17 August 1989, 8 September–23 October 1995	Brian "Dodge" Forbes	Kelly Dingwall	A troublesome foster child involved in theft and arson causing Philip Matheson’s death; bullies Sally Fletcher, frames Simon Yates, leading to imprisonment. Upon parole in 1995, he murders 'Mud' Roberts, frames Steven Matheson, then disappears after confrontation.
20 April–16 May	Simon Yates	Christopher Saunders	Ex-convict employed at the Bayside diner who dates Roo Stewart. Framed by Dodge Forbes for arson, he flees but promises Alf Stewart repayment.
2–9 May	Andrew Foley Senior	Alan Tobin	Estranged father seeking reconciliation with his son Andrew before his death; leaves an inheritance and expresses remorse.
10 May 1989 – 22 February 1990	Howard West	Richard Rowe	Representative from Department of Childcare Services managing foster placements and investigating abuse claims related to Viv Newton’s family; temporarily revokes Donald Fisher’s guardianship before restoring it.
11 May	Peter Braithwaite	Ron Blanchard	Insurance assessor doubting Celia Stewart’s claim on a store fire; requests double the store’s value payout.
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 initially skeptical about Macklin development but persuaded by Martin Dibble to sign contract.
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 for Macklin corporation involved in a strike resolved through Roo Stewart’s negotiation; helps rescue Marilyn Chambers during a publicity stunt.
13 June	Jay Everett	Andrew Doyle	Motivational speaker temporarily managing Macklin office; energizes Martin Dibble but fails to inspire Roo Stewart amid personal challenges.
6 July–13 September	Nina Olivera	Raquel Suarstzman	Stacey Macklin’s friend who forms music group Image with Lance Smart, Martin Dibble, and Marilyn Chambers; departs for promotion work in Los Angeles inviting Stacey to join later.
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 Dodge Forbes regarding a stolen car accident; Steven Matheson initially takes responsibility.
21 July–1 August	John Newton	John Gregg	Viv Newton's abusive reverend father whose mistreatment prompts intervention by Donald Fisher and Child Services; custody disputes resolved through supervision orders culminating in reunion with mother.
27 July 1989 – 25 May 1990	Tammy Newton	Katy Edwards	Viv Newton’s younger sister involved in custody battles against their abusive father; ultimately reunites with mother Angela Newton beginning anew in Queensland.
9 August 1989 – 16 April 1990	Rex Wilson	Barry Donnelly	Matt Wilson’s uncle serving on local council; employs Matt as beach inspector; closes Andrew Foley’s advice centre; resigns following 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; fails to gain her trust before departing Summer Bay with wife Louise Keating.
23–31 August	Louise Keating	Felicity Soper	Ross Keating's wife and Sally's aunt who supports custody attempt despite infertility; ultimately Sally declines custody transfer.
29 August 1989, 23 March 1990	Len Baxter	Uncredited / Damian Cudmore	Vicki Baxter's father reacting angrily when she falsely accuses teacher Grant Mitchell of misconduct; demands reversal of teacher suspension once truth is revealed.
29 August–10 November	Danny Farnsworth	Justin Connor	Son of Gordon Farnsworth seeking vengeance against Morag Bellingham for his father’s imprisonment and suicide; holds Morag hostage but flees after calming intervention by Bobby Simpson and Donald Fisher.
30 August 1989 – 8 July 1996	Chris Hale	John Meillon Jr.	Police constable involved in multiple investigations including youth arrests; promoted sergeant; responsible for hit-and-run causing Shane Parrish's death; confesses leading to suspension due to guilt.
11 September	Doctor Ellis	Marilyn Allen	Hospital doctor arranging Tom Fletcher's transfer following heart attack.
11 September	Doctor Williamson	David Whitford	City physician diagnosing Tom Fletcher with intracerebral haematoma.
18–21 September	Ian McTavish	Noel Trevarthen	Scottish explorer searching for mythical "Summer Bay Bunyip"; departs after realizing no such creature exists and encountering Martin Dibble disguised as it.
20 September	Samantha Walker	Fiona Shannon	Youth worker informing Ailsa Stewart about niece Emma Jackson's wish to live with her, revealing family estrangement issues.
11–12 October	Millicent Staples	Julie Haseler	Wealthy client booking Adam Cameron for charter cruise; deceives him by abandoning him on remote island after gaining his trust.
11 October	Henry Whiting	Patrick Ward	Owner of hot dog stand sold to Celia Stewart following offers from Lance Smart and Martin Dibble.
25 October	Sylvia Wilson	Marie Armstrong	Rex Wilson's wife seen during council disputes involving closure of Martin Dibble's hot dog stand.
26 October–15 November	Rory Heywood	Gregor Jordan	Visitor seeking connection with Fletcher family; irritates locals before being killed by shark; storyline noted as memorable by cast member Judy Nunn.
30 October–2 November	Mick	Bruce Samazan	Friend of Andrew Foley whose drug addiction causes conflict with Stacey Macklin leading to destructive actions before leaving town.

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 on the Internet Movie Database