User:Conquistador2k6/List of Neighbours characters (1989)

Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera created by Reg Watson. It was first broadcast on 18 March 1985. The following is a list of characters that first appear in the show in 1989, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by the show's executive producer Don Battye. The fifth season of Neighbours began airing from 16 January 1989. First to join the cast were Linda Hartley and Miranda Fryer as Kerry Bishop and Sky, daughter and granddaughter of Harold Bishop. Lenita Vangellis arrived as Poppy Skouros in March. Robin Harrison and Ashley Paske made their debuts in May as Bob Landers and Matt Williams respectively. Jade Amenta began appearing as Melissa Jarrett in August. Amber Kilpatrick began playing Tiffany McLachlan in October and Brad Willis made his debut at the end of the month. Maree Ackehurst made her first appearance as Lee Maloney in November and two weeks later, Amelia Frid joined the cast as Brad's sister, Cody Willis.

Kerry Bishop
Kerry Bishop, played by Linda Hartley-Clark, made her first appearance on 1 February 1989. Kerry is Harold Bishop's (Ian Smith) daughter, who arrives in Erinsborough after backpacking around the world with her infant daughter Sky Bishop (Miranda Fryer). While her brother David Bishop (Kevin Harrington) takes after their father, Kerry is "cut from different cloth" and rebels against her father's conservatism. Producers had introduced the character as a possible wife for Des Clarke (Paul Keane), however, when she began to interact more with Joe Mangel (Mark Little), they became popular with viewers and producers later had them marry. Hartley-Clark quit Neighbours after twenty months and the decision was taken to kill Kerry off, making her the second member of the regular cast to die in Neighbours. For her portrayal of Kerry, Hartley-Clark won the 1989 Penguin Award for Best Actress in a Drama Serial. Robin Oliver from The Sydney Morning Herald branded Kerry "the greenie martyr". A columnist for the Sunderland Echo named her death as one of Neighbours' memorable moments.

Sky Bishop
Sky Mangel (also Bishop), made her first appearance on 1 February 1989. The character was originally played by Miranda Fryer, who was cast after being spotted in a supermarket. Fryer was 18 months old when she began filming and was the first child actor to be contracted to the serial. Sky was Kerry Bishop's (Linda Hartley-Clark) daughter and Joe Mangel's (Mark Little) step-daughter. Fryer departed the show in 1991. When the character was reintroduced in August 2003, producers recast the role to Stephanie McIntosh. McIntosh decided to leave school to take the part. Sky was a teenager upon her return to Erinsborough, where she is reunited with her grandfather Harold Bishop (Ian Smith). She described Sky as being "a lot of fun, intrigued about life and very positive." She also believed viewers would be able to relate to Sky, who had endured the tragedy of her mother's death and bullying at school. For her portrayal of Sky, McIntosh received a nomination for the Logie Award for Most Popular New Female Talent in 2004.

Poppy Skouros
Poppy Skouros, played by Lenita Vangellis, made her first appearance on 9 March 1989. Poppy was introduced as a potential love interest for Scott Robinson (Jason Donovan), whose wife Charlene Robinson (Kylie Minogue) had left the serial the previous year. Coral O'Connor of the Daily Mirror reported that Poppy lives in Erinsborough, is around 18 years old, and a belly dancer. She teams up with Scott to write an article for the local newspaper. Vangellis told O'Connor that Poppy and Scott spend so much time together that Poppy falls in love with him. Their closeness does not go unnoticed by the residents of Ramsay Street, who like Poppy, but their loyalties are with Scott and Charlene. Vangellis disliked her character's actions, stating "Poppy seems like a real wimp at times. The way she declares her love to Scott is just something I wouldn't do. She isn't really a femme fatale. She is an unfortunate little girl who makes the wrong moves. Of all the attractive men there are, she picks one who's married. I guess it can happen to the best of us." Fans were not happy about Poppy's seduction of Scott, and Vangellis revealed that she was once chased onto a tram by some school girls who branded her a homewrecker. She added that she enjoyed working with Donovan, calling him "a very unselfish actor", who helped her with the scenes. Poppy ends up leaving Erinsborough, and Vangellis made her last appearance on 17 May 1989.

Poppy is the daughter of Theo Skouros (Vincent Vaccarri), a gardening client of Henry Ramsay (Craig McLachlan). Poppy attends her sister Kathina's wedding and meets Henry, who is hosting the reception at Number 22 Ramsay Street along with his girlfriend Bronwyn Davies (Rachel Friend). When Henry and Poppy reconnect, Bronwyn becomes jealous as she is busy with her night school courses. However, Bronwyn and Poppy become friends when Poppy teaches her to belly dance. Henry suggests Poppy talks to his brother-in-law Scott Robinson for his immigration article for the Erinsborough News. Poppy and Scott get on well and Poppy is noticeably attracted to Scott, who is married to Henry's sister Charlene who is living in Brisbane. Scott and Poppy go to find an interviewee for an article, but are stranded in the bush for the night when Poppy's car breaks down. Theo is annoyed and orders Scott to stay away from Poppy. Poppy later reveals that a marriage has been arranged between herself and Stavros Papadopoulos (George Zogopoulos), who she does not love. Scott and Stavros fight at the Waterhole after Stavros warns him off. When Poppy declares her feelings to Scott, he is shocked and rejects her. Poppy agrees to marry Stavros, to the shock of Scott who tries to warn her off but is threatened with the police by Theo. After Scott and Stavros have a second fight and Poppy sides with Scott, Stavros tells Scott's parents-in-law Madge Bishop (Anne Charleston) and Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) that Scott and Poppy are having an affair. When Madge threatens to tell Charlene, Scott denies having an affair and agrees not to see Poppy again. Poppy argues with Theo and decides to leave for Greece.

Bob Landers
Robert "Bob" Landers, played by Robin Harrison made his first appearance on 5 May 1989. Harrison was originally cast as Jim Robinson in 1984 and had already filmed some scenes when his contract negotiations broke down. The role was then recast to Alan Dale in January 1985 and the scenes featuring Harrison were re-shot. When the character returned to the series in 1991, Bruce Kilpatrick took over the role. Kilpatrick had guested previous guested in the serial in 1986 as Gavin McKinley. Bob is the father of established characters Todd (Kristian Schmid) and Katie Landers (Sally Jensen) and ex-husband of Annette Landers (Tania Uren). In their 1989 book,The Neighbours Factfile by Neil Wallis and Dave Hogan, Bob is described as a "bullying father who believes his kids should pay for his drinking habit".

In 1988, Bob and Annette's marriage breaks down after a series of arguments and the children go to live with their aunt Beverly Marshall (Lisa Armytage; Shaunna O'Grady) and her new husband Jim Robinson. The following year, Bob takes a job at a Post Office in Erinsborough and has a chance meeting with Katie, who along with Toby Mangel (Finn Greentree-Keane), is on the trail of Helen Daniels' (Anne Haddy) blackmailer who is demanding $20,000. Katie is overjoyed to see Bob, who is evasive and swears her to secrecy. Katie tells Todd and he confronts Bob. Todd quickly works out that Bob is behind the blackmail. Bob tries to justify his actions by saying he needed the money to make a new start and agrees disappear as long as Todd keeps quiet until he is gone. Todd reluctantly agrees, however, Bob is arrested. Helen then agrees to pay Bob's bail for the sake of the children, with Jim and Beverly contributing a third each. Jim agrees to get Bob some legal help but Bob panics at the prospect of being behind bars and decides to flee. Todd begs him not to leave and Bob suggests he come with him to Cairns. When Katie learns about Bob and Todd's plan to leave, she is upset and tells Jim and Beverly. Beverly arrives at the bus station in time to stop Todd leaving. After Todd decides to stay, Bob tells him it is his loss and gets on the bus.

Two years later, Bob returns to Erinsborough and asks Todd to meet him. Bob is still on the run and tells Todd he is planning to get the money to pay back Helen. Todd notices Bob has injured his arm and hides him at the recently vacated Number 32, which Helen has purchased. Helen discovers Bob hiding and he swears her to secrecy and she reluctantly agrees to let him spend Christmas with her and Todd. Bob gives Helen Jim's share of the bail money and she urges him to turn himself in. Bob's arm begins hurting him following a spider bite and Todd is able to get Pam Willis (Sue Jones) to look at it at the hospital. It turns out Bob was shot in a bank robbery and when Todd discovers the truth, he orders him to leave. Bob eventually agrees to turn himself in but the police arrive on Ramsay Street and arrest Bob who tries to flee. Bob blames Todd at first but apologises for his treatment of Todd and Annette. Several months later, Todd visits Bob to tell him that his girlfriend Phoebe Bright (Simone Robertson) is expecting their baby. Bob warns him not to make the same mistake he did by marrying young. Two weeks later, Todd is killed by an oncoming van while trying to stop Phoebe from having an abortion. Bob is permitted to attend the funeral under armed police guard. Once the service is concluded, Bob steals one of the officers' guns and holds Helen hostage. They take Jim's car and speed off. Helen tries to reason with Bob but he will not listen. Bob then dumps Helen on the roadside and speeds off.

A few weeks later, Bob breaks into Number 30 and menaces Phoebe at gunpoint, demanding money to help him get away as Todd told him she had recently inherited her late father, Arthur's (Barry Hill) business and money. They discuss Todd for a while. When Bob falls asleep, Phoebe tries to use the phone to call for help but he stops her. Dorothy Burke (Maggie Dence) arrives home and Bob demands money out of her. Dorothy refuses and Bob begins smashing her artifacts until she agrees. Dorothy goes to the bank while Bob holds Phoebe as insurance. When Dorothy is delayed in getting back from the bank, Bob gets agitated. Phoebe escapes and alerts Brad Willis (Scott Michaelson) that Bob is armed and at her place. Brad runs into the house to save Pam, who has gone to check on Phoebe and is shot in the process by Bob, who then flees.

Matt Williams
Matthew "Matt" Robinson (also Williams), played by Ashley Paske, made his first on-screen appearance on 22 May 1989 and departed the show on 19 March 1991. Paske's casting was announced On 8 May 1989, by the serial's producer Mark Callan, who told Jackie Cockburn of Evening Times that the former Richmond Hill actor Ashley Paske had been cast in the role of Matt. Callan said that they were introducing new characters to test the relationships with their established ones. When Paske was given the role, he relocated from his home in Wollongong to Melbourne for filming. In Neighbours The Official Annual 1991, John McCready and Nicola Furlong said Paske was following in Jessica Muschamp and Anne Scott-Pendlebury's footsteps in a "rise to the top" in making his mark on Neighbours. The BBC said Matt's most notable moment was his "motorbike accident with Gemma." A reporter from The Sydney Morning Herald opined that Paske was just a replacement for Jason Donovan who played Scott Robinson. Rachel Browne of The Sun-Herald said that as Matt, Paske won a legion of fans and became a teen magazine cover boy.

Melissa Jarrett
Melissa Jarrett, played by Jade Amenta, made her first appearance on 8 August 1989. Melissa departed on 9 April 1991. Amenta won the role of Melissa in a competition and she joined the cast of Neighbours at the age of fourteen. Amenta took acting lessons and her coach entered her for the part. The role of Melissa was initially to last for two months and she was introduced as the girlfriend of Todd Landers (Kristian Schmid). Amenta was still at school while starring in the show and had to balance her work with filming. The character was part of the show's teenage character group which included herself, Cody Willis (Amelia Frid), Todd Landers (Kristian Schmid) and Josh Anderson (Jeremy Angerson). In 1991, Barbara Toner of The Sydney Morning Herald said Melissa had the "Best entrance on the year's first episode of Neighbours."

Tiffany McLachlan
Tiffany "Lochy" McLachlan, played by Amber Kilpatrick, made her first appearance on 23 October 1989. A writer for BBC Online called Tiffany "an absolute little terror." They described her as always cooking up mischief and trying to obtain money or vandalise other people's property. They said "this little girl was certainly not made of sugar and spice and all things nice. More like paint-stripper and bleach." They also said that the character's most "audacious moment" was when she graffitied Paul Robinson's (Stefan Dennis) car. Paul was quite protective of his car and was outraged when he saw what Tiffany had done. The writer wondered what Tiffany was up to today and believed that she was either "Behind bars" or running a bank. The character's profile on the BBC said Tiffany's most notable moment was "Painting Paul's car." A columnist for the Aberdeen Press and Journal branded Lochy and her friend Toby Mangel (Finn Greentree-Keane) "a pair of little devils."

Tiffany is the daughter of Russell and Petra McLachlan (Berndardette Wheatley) and sister to Ryan (Richard Norton). As her family were quite affluent, Tiffany appeared to be spoilt and pampered. When Kerry Bishop (Linda Hartley-Clark) begins running a childminding service, Petra places Tiffany in her care. Kerry's stepson, Toby Mangel is initially reluctant to become friends with Tiffany, as his friend, Katie Landers (Sally Jensen), had just left for Adelaide. Toby warms to Tiffany after her tomboy persona comes out. She tells Toby to call her Lochy and they become good friends. One day, Lochy and Toby find an empty house and become convinced that it is haunted. However, they discover that a runaway teenager, Lee Maloney (Maree Ackhurst), is living there. They tell Matt Robinson (Ashley Paske) about Lee and he takes her home with him.

After a Magpie dive bombs her, Lochy takes a dislike to the birds and begins throwing stones at their nest. Toby and Helen Daniels (Anne Haddy) warn her that she will make the birds angry, but Lochy does not listen. Lochy then decides to climb the tree to get to the nest, but when Kerry calls her, she loses her balance and falls from the tree, breaking her arm. Lochy clashes with her classmate Natasha Kovac (Courtney Compagnino), who makes Lochy's life miserable. Lochy tells her aunt, Dorothy Burke (Maggie Dence) that Kerry is mistreating her. Dorothy threatens to report Kerry to the Department of Childcare and Lochy admits that she made her story up. Kerry gives up her child care service, but agrees to continue looking after Lochy.

Lochy's life is placed in danger when she decides to wag school to go to the beach with Ryan and his girlfriend, Tania Walsh (Angela Nicholls). The couple hitch a lift with Kerry's husband Joe Mangel (Mark Little) and Lochy sneaks onto the back of Joe's ute. Ryan and Tania are angry when they find her. Lochy asks Tania to call her school and pretend she is sick. Ryan then tells Lochy to leave them alone, so he and Tania can be alone. Lochy gets into difficulty in the water, having gone out alone and Ryan pulls her to safety. Lochy is unconscious, but some lifeguards give her CPR and she comes around. Lochy tells everyone to blame her for the accident instead of Ryan, but Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) sacks Ryan from the Coffee Shop. Lochy protests outside the shop, outraging Harold. The Erinsborough News turn up and Harold agrees to re-instate Ryan.

Lochy starts having nightmares after witnessing Dorothy knocking down Bouncer the dog. She then contracts the mumps and has to be quarantined. Lochy overhears Dorothy telling Joe that her prized African statue carries a curse if it is ever broken. Lochy breaks the chain around the statue and she runs off. Joe finds the broken chain and believes the curse is real. Lochy tells Dorothy what has happened and Dorothy tells her that she had made the story up. Lochy comes to believe the curse is real though, when a sword falls on Joe. He then begs Dorothy to exorcise the curse and Dorothy has him run outside in his underwear. Lochy admits she broke the chain and asks whether she should go out in her underwear too. Dorothy then admits it was all a joke.

When Toby's mother, Noeline Mangel (Lindy McConchie) dies, Lochy is very affected by the news. She goes to get some flowers for her mother, but she falls into a fountain at the park when some of the bricks come loose as she picks roses. Lochy tries to offer Toby (now Ben Guerens) some support, but he refuses to talk to anyone. Toby pushes Lochy away one day and manages to hurt her. Kerry and Joe force Toby to apologise and he and Lochy became friends again. When their parents go away to Papua New Guinea, Lochy and Ryan move in with Dorothy. Lochy later joins her parents in Port Moresby, when they decide to settle there permanently.

Brad Willis
Brad Willis made his first appearance on 31 October 1989. The character was originally played by Benjamin Mitchell. The character returned in August 1991 with Scott Michaelson taking over the role. He was introduced along with Rachel Blakely, who plays Brad's sister, Gaby Willis. Their introductions occurred during a period of roller coaster ratings for the serial. June Walton of Woman stated: "Brad Willis, who has the invaluable support of his parents, Doug and Pam, is in his early 20s, but acts like an irresponsible teenager. He can't hold down a job and can't help chasing pretty girls." Brad was originally going to be a professional basketball player, but writers changed the storyline after Michaelson told them he was a surfer. Brad becomes involved in a love triangle between Beth Brennan (Natalie Imbruglia) and Lauren Carpenter (Sarah Vandenbergh), which culminates in Beth jilting Brad at the alter when she realises he has been dating Lauren too. For his portrayal of Brad, Michaelson was nominated for Most Popular Actor at the 1993 Logie Awards. The character was reintroduced in May 2013 and the role recast to Kip Gamblin. Executive producer Richard Jasek said he had initially thought about approaching Michaelson to reprise the role, but then learned that he was not acting anymore. Brad was reintroduced with his new wife Terese Willis (Rebekah Elmaloglou) and their teenage children, Josh (Harley Bonner) and Imogen Willis (Ariel Kaplan).

Lee Maloney
Lee Maloney, played by Maree Ackehurst, made her first appearance on 8 November 1989 and departed on 13 March 1990. Writers created a relationship storyline between Lee and Matt Robinson (Ashley Paske). In November 1989, Paske told Darren Devlyn from TV Week that he was "anxiously awaiting" Matt's first relationship story with Lee. He added that viewers would have to wait until the episodes aired, but was "excited" about the story's direction. The couple soon become serious about their relationship, after Lee leaves home due to her difficult relationship with her parents. She and Matt were shown living together in a flat, but Lee ultimately decides that she is too young to settle down and they break up.

Lee meets Kerry Bishop (Linda Hartley-Clark) and her children Sky (Miranda Fryer) and Toby Mangel (Finn Greentree-Keane) in the park. Kerry asks if Lee is new in town and Lee invents a story about moving around a lot due to her father's job and having a high-powered job of her own. As Lee continues to talk with Kerry, her story begins to unravel. Kerry, suspicious, invites Lee to join her and the children on a picnic. When Kerry's neighbour Matt Robinson collects Tiffany McLachlan (Amber Kilpatrick), she tells him about a local house where she and Toby have seen a ghost. Matt initially laughs this off, but realises something is up when he and Lochy spot a figure, who turns out to be Lee. She says that she lives in the house, but Matt is sceptical and she admits that it belongs to her uncle Rod (Kirk Alexander) and aunt Jean (Carole Brown). She also tells Matt that she is hiding out from her feuding parents. Matt and Lochy agree not to tell anyone.

Matt returns the following day and brings Lee some food. Toby, his father Joe (Mark Little) and Henry Ramsay (Craig McLachlan) arrive at the house after Toby believes the ghost is there. Matt and Lee hide and do not emerge until Rod and Jean arrive and threaten to call the police when they see Toby, Joe and Henry. Rod calls Lee's parents, which upsets her and she refuses to go home. Matt convinces his mother Hilary (Anne Scott-Pendlebury) to let Lee stay for a while. Lee's parents, Patrick and Evelyn (Cheryl Ballantyne) try to convince her to return home, but she refuses to, knowing of their separation. Evelyn tries one last time to get Lee to relocate to Perth with her, but she refuses.

Matt tries to help Lee find a job, but they have little success. Lee accuses him of trying to control her life, which leaves Matt hurt. He explains that he is only helping her because he cares about her and then he kisses her. Lee is shocked and things between the pair are tense, but during a sit-in in the Year 12 common room, Lee joins the students and tells Matt she wants to be more than friends. Before Christmas, Lee secures a job working at the local coffee shop, but the good feeling soon ends when Matt decides to visit his adoptive parents in Adelaide. Matt and Lee's secret romance is revealed, but Hilary tells them she already knew and allows Lee to continue living at Number 30 Ramsay Street. With most of their friends away for the holidays, Lee befriends neighbour Nick Page (Mark Stevens). When Matt returns in the New Year, he is jealous to learn that Nick and Lee have been spending time together and accuses Lee of cheating on him, which upsets her. Matt apologises and Lee forgives him.

Lee bickers with Gloria Lewis (Beverly Phillips) when Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) leaves her in charge of the coffee shop and insults her casserole. Harold threatens to sack both of them unless they change their behaviour. They agree to put their differences behind them. When Hilary decides to return to Adelaide and Number 30 is sold, Matt and Lee have to find a new place. They find a run-down house, which they try to tidy the best they can, but they eventually leave when a neighbour makes unwanted advances towards Lee. They return to Number 30 as squatters and Matt suggests taking things to the next level, but Lee reacts badly. The couple are caught in the house one night by Jim Robinson (Alan Dale), who offers Matt a place to stay and Des Clarke (Paul Keane) agrees to let Lee stay next door. Matt is disappointed by Lee's enthusiasm at their separation. Lee feels increasingly smothered and takes advice from Kerry who had a similar experience. On the day of Nick's leaving party, Lee is spotted leaving by Ryan McLachlan (Richard Norton) who tries to talk her into returning, but Lee refuses. She hands him a note to give to Matt. Matt reads the letter, in which Lee thanks him for helping her, but says she had to leave as she was feeling pressured.

Cody Willis
Cody Willis, played by Amelia Frid, made her first appearance on 24 November 1989. Frid was cast after a successful audition and she called it a "right time, right place thing". Cody is "studious" and a "high achiever", making her parents very proud of her. Cody dates Todd Landers (Kristian Schmid), and Frid told Dawn Bebe of BIG! that Cody is "flirty and does her best to chase boys – especially Todd". This behaviour caused Frid embarrassment because she was completely unlike Cody. Frid departed the show in 1991 during a revamp of Neighbours, which occurred after a decline in ratings. The character was reintroduced in 1993 with Peta Brady in the role. Brady was a full-time student at the University of Sydney when she was cast. Brady understood that some viewers might find the changes to the character "odd", but she hoped they would eventually accept her. A Sunday World columnist observed that "as well as sporting a more glamorous image, Cody is also a much more fun-loving young one." The character was given two love interests and Brady said that she was not like Cody at all when it came to men, saying "Cody always seemed to need to have a man in tow." After four years in the role, Brady quit Neighbours and producers took the decision to kill the character off.