User:Conquistador2k6/List of Home and Away characters (1996)

Home and Away is an Australian soap opera. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the Australian soap opera Home and Away in 1996, by order of first appearance. They were all introduced by the show's executive producer John Holmes. The 9th season of Home and Away began airing on the Seven Network on 15 January 1996. . The first introduction of year was Simon Broadhurst, played by Julian Garner. Peter Scarf began playing Liam Tanner in April. That month also saw the birth of Shane Parrish Jr. Ben Unwin and Fleur Beaupert joined the cast in May as Jesse McGregor and Stephanie Mboto, respectively. Constable Terri Garner first appeared in June as did Joey Rainbow, played by Alex O'Han. Rebecca Croft debuted as Casey Mitchell in July. Martin Henderson arrived as Geoff Thomas in September. Former Neighbours actor Bruce Samazan began playing psychiatrist Brad Cooper in October.

Simon Broadhurst
Simon Broadhurst, played by Julian Garner made his first appearance on 7 March 1996 and departed on 30 August 1996. Morgan O'Neill took over the role of Simon for two episodes when the character returned in 1999. In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Garner spoke of his experiences on Home and Away. "Melissa George wanted to leave the show so they created this drippy, wet, pathetic character ... that was me."

Simon is a software millionaire. He arrives in Summer Bay when Alex Bennett (Nick Freedman) and Shannon Reed (Isla Fisher) discover an old plane wreck containing the remains of two occupants. It emerges Simon's grandmother is one of the corpses and when a letter in Japanese is found on the other corpse and is later translated, it is revealed Simon's grandmother had an affair during wartime. Simon leaves, dillusioned but returns and is unveiled as the payee of Angel's mortgage. Angel is is furious at first but is grateful and tells Simon she will repay him. Simon makes his feelings clear towards Angel but she rejects him as her husband Shane (Dieter Brummer) died several weeks earlier. Simon returns to England.

Simon returns several months later to continue his quest to woo Angel, He discovers some more money has been paid into her account. After some digging, he discovers Sgt Chris Hale (John Meillon Jr.) is the secret benefactor in order to make amends for knocking Shane off his motorbike the previous Christmas. Angel is grateful and they nearly kiss. On Simon's next return, he proposes but Angel turns him down. Joanne Brennan (Kimberley Joseph) returns to Summer Bay and Simon hires her as his secretary, oblivious to her past animosity with Angel. Joanne schemes to take Simon for all of his money but he discovers a suspicious phone call on the hotel's call log. He and Joanne are about to leave Summer Bay but when Angel and Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher) arrive and confront Joanne, he dumps her choosing Angel.

Simon then proposes and Angel accepts and she and her children Dylan Parrish (Corey Glaister) and Shane Jr. leave for England. Simon returns three years later to assist Donald Fisher (Norman Coburn) in order to raise funds for his infant son, Byron's cancer treatment. He confirms he and Angel are still together.

Liam Tanner
Liam Tanner, played by Peter Scarf, debuted during the episode airing on 26 April 1996 and departed on 3 June 1997. Liam is placed with Michael (Dennis Coard) and Pippa Ross (Debra Lawrence) as a crisis care foster child. His father, Greg (Steven Grives) is on the run from the law on fraud charges. His arrival in Summer Bay coincides with a severe storm and flooding. During the storm, Liam sneaks away to meet his father, unaware Greg has already been arrested. Jack Wilson (Daniel Amalm), one of the other foster children, tracks him down and explaines the situation. The pair discover Michael, along with Sam Marshall (Ryan Clark), has been washed into the swollen river. Liam runs for help Jack tries to haul them to safety and he saves Sam but Michael is washed away and drowns. When Greg is placed on remand, Liam feels alone but Pippa assures him that whatever else happened he will always have a home at Summer Bay House.

Liam settles in and attends the high school. Joey Rainbow (Alex O’Han), a new classmate in Year 10 tries to befriend Liam but he is dismissive as Joey comes across naïve having grown up in a commune knowing little of the outside world. When Liam is attacked by a group of boys whose families have suffered as a result of Greg’s fraud, Joey jumps to Liam’s defence and they become firm friends. While helping out at the caravan park, Liam begins hearing a ghostly voice inside one of the vans saying "Wait. Help me. "He eventually suspects the phrase was actually "Weight, help me" and persuades the others to help him move the van. A memorial stone to a lost pilgrim ship is revealed to be underneath and an archeological team was called in.

Liam makes the acquaintance of Stephanie Mboto (Fleur Beaupert), whose first words to him are; "Wait. Help me." Liam wondesr if there is any connection. It is revealed Stephanie is an illegal immigrant from Somalia, where she had once been shot and is in danger of being deported there. Liam asks Shannon Reed (Isla Fisher) to contact her mother Katherine Walker (Linden Wilkinson), a politician, for assistance. Stephanie is granted a stay but has to move to a foster family in Brisbane. Casey Mitchell (Rebecca Croft) takes an interest in Liam but when Stephanie returns following her 16th birthday, they agree to be friends.

Stephanie begins having strange visions suggesting, she and Liam had been on board the pilgrim ship in a past life and she had been responsible for Liam's death. Stephanie deliberately consumes a drink at a party spiked with hallucinogens that had been intended for Liam, going on a dangerous trip. Afterwards, she suspects that if Liam had drunk it he would have died and she had been sent to make up for her past wrongs. Liam and Stephanie begin to drift apart. Although they part amicably, Stephanie's friend Chloe Richards (Kristy Wright) misguidedly seeks payback for her and takes Liam out on a date before dropping him. On the rebound, Liam kisses Casey but they decide to stay friends. Liam and Stephanie reunite when they share a kiss in a drama class taught by Donald Fisher's (Norman Coburn) mother, Isobel Dupre (Lorrae Desmond).

Liam and Stephanie spend the night together soon after. Stephanie is furious when she overhears Liam discussing the previous night’s events with Joey while they are on a bushwalk and storms off. Liam tries to talk to her but Stephanie pulls away from him and falls down a cliff. Liam risks his life to save her but she dies before the rescue team arrive. Liam is left devastated and Travis Nash (Nic Testoni) seems to blame Liam and things are not helped with Pippa being comatose, with the house effectively being run by Shannon and Sally Fletcher (Kate Ritchie).

He initially refuses to attend Stephanie's funeral but arrives halfway through the service to deliver a moving eulogy. At Stephanie's graveside, Travis puts his arm around Liam, signalling their reconciliation. Frances (Anne Grigg), Liam’s mother arrives from Peru ahead of Greg’s trial as a witness and asks Liam to return with her after the trial but he is reluctant to do so. Frances is abducted by Greg’s henchmen, who aim to stop her from testifying against her husband. Liam visits his father in prison and persuaded him to release Frances on the grounds the court will go easier on him if he does. After the trial, Liam says a tearful farewell to Casey, who had never really given up hope for him, and his other friends before departing with Frances.

Shane Parrish Jr.
Shane Parrish Jr. is the daughter of Shane Parrish (Dieter Brummer) and Angel Parrish (Dieter Brummer), who is born on 29 April. Baby Shane is born during at Summer Bay House during a storm and named after her late father,who died a month earlier. One day while Alex Bennett (Nick Freedman) babysits Shane, he is distracted while bathing her and she nearly drowns as result. Shane is saved by Angel asks Alex to move out. Angel meets Simon Broadhurst and he takes her, Shane and Dylan (Corey Glaister) to England with him

Jesse McGregor
Jesse McGregor, played by Ben Unwin made his first appearance on 23 May 1996 and departed on 4 February 2000. Unwin returned to the serial in 2002 and remained until 2005. For his portrayal of Jesse, Unwin was nominated for "Most Popular New Talent" at the 1997 Logie Awards. In 1999, he received nominations for "Best Actor" and "Sexiest Male" from the Inside Soap Awards.

Stephanie Mboto
Stephanie Mboto, played by actress Fleur Beaupert first appeared on 27 May 1996 and departed on 28 March 1997 following the character's death.

Stephanie's older Kibiri had previously been involved withTravis Nash (Nic Testoni) who was working as part of a peacekepping force for the United Nations. Kibiri died in in a massacre and Stephanie was smuggled out Somalia to England and looked after a doctor, The doctor later died and Stephanie fled to Australia on a fake British passport, in the hope that Travis would look after her.

Stephanie quickly makes friends with local teenagers, Liam Tanner, Joey Rainbow (Alex O'Han) and Casey Mitchell (Rebecca Croft). Travis discovers Stephanie is in the country illegally and Shannon Reed (Isla Fisher) asks her mother Katherine Walker, a senator in order to get Stephanie a stay of execution. Stephanie is sent to live with a foster family in Brisbane but returns to Summer Bay, following her 16th birthday to live with Travis and his girlfriend Kelly Watson (Katrina Hobbs). She begins dating Liam and the two become very close. Stephanie begins suffering mental delusions.

Stephanie begins a work placement at Northern Districts Hospital, with Kelly supervising her. She befriends terminally ill cancer patient Sebastian (Dominic Elamloglou) and develops feelings for him but his mother Lillian (Julie Hasseler) does not approved and she is and his father,Stan decide to take Sebastian to America for further treatment, devastating Stephanie. Before Sebastian leaves, he and Stephanie arrange to meet again next June.

When Oskar Ganz (Gunther Berghoffer) arrives from the United Nations, he subpeonaes Stephanie to testify at The Hague against Kibiri's murderer, Stephanie is reulctant at first but agrees to go. Stephanie returns and tells her friends of her experience at the trial and is granted a place on the student council.

Stephanie and Liam then take their relationship into a more intimate phase and sleep together, only to be caught sneaking out of Liam's room by Bert King (Peter Collingwood) and Isobel DuPre (Lorrae Desmond), the following morning. While on a bushwalk with Joey and Casey, Stephanie is angry when she overhears Liam and Joey talking about what happened the previous night and storms away. She slips off the edge of a cliff and Liam tries to help her but her grip gives way and she falls down some rocks. Liam jumps down to save her and sends Joey and Casey to get help. Liam finds Stephanie and she tells him she doesn't feel any pain and reminisces about when they first started dating before dying. Liam is left devastated. At Stephanie's funeral, Liam loses patience with the minister for not referring to Stephanie by her name and delivers an emotional eulogy.

Terri Garner
Terri Garner, played by Alyson Standen, made her first appearance on 14 June 1996. Standen played the role until 1998. Amelia Longhurst took over the role of the character in 1999.

Terri is first seen when she and her sergeant Chris Hale (John Meillon Jr.) are chasing Jesse McGregor. She later assists Hale when Keith Williams (Scott McGregor) begins a siege at Summer Bay High when he is denied access to his daughter Hannah (Brooke "Mikey" Anderson). Terri consoles Chloe Richards (Kristy Wright) after she is raped. Terri informs Angel Parrish (Melissa George) that Chris has confessed to knocking her late husband, Shane (Dieter Brummer) off his motorcycle in a hit and run just before christmas. She later arrests Richard Wood (Matt Juarez) for car theft and Barbara Stewart (Rona McLeod) for the attemped murder of Donald Fisher (Norman Coburn).

Terri dates local doctor Lachlan Fraser (Richard Grieve) but when Terri discovers he is the father of Chloe's baby and tells him, he reacts badly and blames her for keeping the news from him and they break up. Terri is not seen for several months but reappears when she arrests Sam Marshall (Ryan Clark) for his part in a ram-raid and is later discovered to be having an affir with the Marketing manager of Bonza Burger, Jason Duncan (Paul Kelman). Jason's wife, Tamara (Sarah Aubrey) catches him flirting with Terri and leaves him denying access to their child. Terri blames Lachie for the break-up of her relationship.

Terri meets Tom Nash (Graeme Squires) on the beach and they get along well. He lies about his age and they begin seeing each other. One night, on their way to the cinema, they are pulled over by Joel who discovers Tom is driving without a license and discovers their relationship. Terri then takes a leave of absence and returns several months later, much to Joel's shock. She resumes her relationship with Tom, much to disbelief of the community but it does not last when Terri realises Tom is too young for her and breaks up with him.

Joey Rainbow
Joey Rainbow, played by Alex O'Han, made his first appearance on 20 June 1996 and departed on 11 May 1999. O'Han left the serial in order to focus on his studies. Joey's schizophrenia storyline was positively recieved by critics and helped SANE Australia heighten awareness of mnetal illness. SANE, who had an input in the storyline, recieved a 100% increase in calls due to their telephone number being advertised on the Home and Away website. Channel 5 chose the episode where Joey tries to save Saul following the commune fire as one of their best ever episodes.

Casey Mitchell
Casey Mitchell played by Rebecca Croft, made her first appearance on 10 July 1996 and departed on 14 November 1997. In July 1997, Jason Herbison from Inside Soap reported that Casey had been axed from the show. Croft's contract was due to expire in October 1997, but producers informed her that it would not be renewed. A spokesperson for the show stated "everyone will be really sorry to see Rebecca go, but it's just one of those things. The show's producers want to make way for some new people." Dave Lanning writing for The People said that Casey's exit was an "historic moment" because she lived in Summer Bay without having "a single bonk". A critic from Inside Soap magazine observed that "for all her ups and downs, there has always been one constant in her life - a true love for music."

Kylie Burton
Kylie Burton, played by Roslyn Oades. 11 September 1996 until 1 July 1998.

Kylie is Jesse McGregor's (Ben Unwin) ex-girlfriend and the mother of their daughter Rachel ([Kelly Glaister). She arrives in Summer Bay with Rachel and leaves her with Jesse. Kylie returns several months later with a new partner, John (Rui Spinola) and wants Rachel back. She battles Jesse in court and wins custody after Rachel draws a picture of Jesse's home with a black crayon. Kylie and Rachel move to the city but return. Kylie then realises she has feelings for Jesse and they reunite and agree to marry. On their wedding day, Kylie is arrested for a hit and run she committed over year earlier. Following her bail, Kylier, Jesse and Rachel flee the bay but Kylie is arrested and then jailed for six years. Kylie is given special leave to see Rachel but later dies of a drug overdose

Rachel McGregor
Rachel McGregor (nee Burton), played by Kelly Glaister from 1996-1998 and Sara Mumcu from 1998-2000 and 2002. Rachel is Jesse McGregor and Kylie Burton's (Roslyn Oades) daughter. Kylie leaves Rachel in Jesse's care for several months and returns to collect her and they begin a custody battle which Kylie wins. However, Kylie returns to the bay and reconciles with Jesse and they become a family until Kylie is arrested for dangerous driving and jailed. After Kylie dies in prison of an ovedose, Jesse struggles to raise Rachel alone. After Jesse flees town after being exposed in a carjacking ring, he leaves Rachel in the care of Joel (David Woodley) and Natalie Nash (Antoinette Byron). The Nashes split and Natalie moves to Queensland with Rachel. Joel and Natalie reconcile and Rachel goes to live with Gypsy Nash (Kimberley Cooper) and Will Smith (Zac Drayson). Jesse visits her after he is released from prison and tries to get her to return but Rachel is happy in Queensland. Will and Gypsy later adopt her with Jesse's permission.

Geoff Thomas
Geoff Thomas, played by Martin Henderson, made his first appearence on 13 September and departed on 27 1996.

Geoff is Mandy Thomas' (Rachael Blake) younger brother. He arrives in town with his crew and Shannon Reed (Isla Fisher) is attracted to him. Geoff in turn, is attracted to Shannon and they begin dating. Geoff shows Shannon around a ship. While looking through Binocluars, Shannon falls overboard but is rescued by Geoff before an exploded mine goes off. Their attraction deepens but Shannon gets cold feet when her foster mother Pippa Ross (Debra Lawrence) worries that she is falling too fast for Geoff and Mandy phones and tells her Geoff is only in town for two weeks. Geoff and Shannon then decide to make the most of the time they have left together and begin taking many pictures, which Shannon adds to a scrapbook.

Shannon and Geoff, realising they have very little time left together before Geoff's shore leave is up, stage a mock wedding and invite their friends to do some roleplaying where they have lived their life as a couple over twenty years. In the scenario, Geoff has an affair with Selina Roberts (Tempany Deckert) while Shannon has been seeing Jesse McGregor (Ben Unwin). After the "wedding", Geoff leaves.

Andrea Jones of the Sun-Herald described Geoff and Shannon's wedding as "one of Home and Away's goofier plotlines".

Brad Cooper
Bradley Raymond "Brad" Cooper , played by Bruce Samazan, made his first appearence on 16 October 1996 and departed on 15 January 1997.

Brad begins working as a therapist and counsels Casey Mitchell (Rebecca Croft) when her mother Margaret (Robyn Gibbes) has mental problems. Chloe Richards (Kristy Wright) also begins seeing Brad, following her rape ordeal several months earlier. Chloe falls for Brad and they begin dating Chloe's guardian Irene Roberts (Lynne McGranger) disapproves but Brad and Chloe go away for Christmas.

Chloe discovers the truth about Brad and tries to call for help but the phone line is cut. Brad chases Chloe through the woods but catches his leg in a dog trap. Chloe hides in the car until morning and rolls up the window to drown out Brad's screams for help. Brad is then found unconcious and taken to hospital under police guard. The brother of one of Brad's victims attacks him His leg is later amputated and he is transferred to a city hospital for psychiatric evaluation before being jailed. Several months later, Brad's girlfriend Karen Williams (Anna Brionoswski) begins a revenge campaign against Chloe, who she blames for Brad being beaten up in prison.

The episode involving Chloe's confrontation with Brad Cooper after discovering he is her rapist received the Australian Writers' Guild award for "Best Episode in a Television Serial" in 1997 and was presented to the episode's writer Greg Haddrick.