List of Home and Away characters introduced in 2009
Home and Away is an Australian television soap opera. It was first broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. The following is a list of characters who first appeared in 2009, they are listed in order of their first appearance. They were all introduced by the show's executive producer, Cameron Welsh. The 22nd season of Home and Away began airing from 19 January 2009 and concluded on 27 November 2009. The first introductions of the year were Gina and Hugo Austin who arrived in January. February saw the debuts of Robert Cruze, [|Trey Palmer], Freya Duric and Joey Collins. Liam Murphy and John Palmer arrived in March, while Lachie Cladwell and [|David Gardiner] debuted in April. [|May Stone] arrived in June. July saw the birth of [|Harry Holden] and the arrival of the Walker Family consisting of [|Sid], Dexter and Indigo. Detective [|Robert Robertson] arrived in August and in September Romeo Smith was the final character to be introduced.
Gina Austin
Gina Austin, played by Sonia Todd, made her first on-screen appearance on 27 January 2009 and departed on 18 April 2013. The serial's official website describe her stating: "Gina is a loving mother, and she knows she has made terrible mistakes with her eldest and youngest boys. But she did her very best She's been worn down by the way her life unfolded, but blames no one and tries not to indulge in self-pity. It is what it is, and she just has to get by." Soap opera reporting website Holy Soap describe Gina stating: "A down-to-earth, warm woman who has spent her whole life looking after her family at the expense of her own needs and desires." Todd states the thing she likes most about Gina is the fact that she has three children that are all boys.Hugo Austin
Hugo Austin, played by Bernard Curry, made his first on-screen appearance on 27 January 2009, departed on 26 January 2010, returned on 6 May 2010 and departed once again on 9 June 2010. Curry previously acted in rival Australian soap opera Neighbours. On working in Home and Away, Curry said "I can honestly tell you I have never enjoyed working on a show as much as I have on Home & Away. The character's great, I'm really enjoying the challenge". Hugo is described as the "outdoorsy type with the physique and tan to prove it".Robert Cruze
Robert "Robbo" Cruze, played by Aidan Gillett, made his first on-screen appearance on 1 February 2009.Robbo works on the boat with Aden Jefferies and Joey Collins where he enjoys winding them up. He continues his campaign against Joey mainly who he takes issue with because of her sexuality. One day he pushes Joey overboard into the water leaving her terrified of him, she tries to avoid him but Robbo continues to harass her. He tricks Aden into leaving him along with Joey and then sexually assaults her. He threatens her to keep quiet about the incident and she initially agrees out of fear. Joey later tells Aden what Robbo has done to her. After those around her convince her to report him she files a complaint. He denies it, his Ex-girlfriend, Tanya Gannon turns up to help with the case but she is run over. Angry that Joey has filed a complaint he tracks Joey down and attacks her, he also tries drown Joey in a bath tub but Charlie arrives saves her and arrests Robbo. He is charged and not seen again.
Trey Palmer
Trey Palmer, played by Luke Bracey, made his first on-screen appearance on 9 February 2009.Trey is described as having "the face of an angel" but engages in "devilish behaviour". His arrival on-screen is said to have "stirred viewers up". Upon his arrival Trey enjoys causing trouble for Geoff Campbell and Nicole Franklin. A notable storyline for the character is the filming of a sex tape. The plot was branded "bizarre" after it mirrored a real life scandal that had occurred weeks earlier. After Lincoln Lewis, who plays Trey's on-screen enemy Geoff, had been caught up in a sex tape scandal which leaked onto the internet, the serial decided to include Trey making a sex tape with Nicole and having it leaked. Joe Brett from Holy Soap likened the character to a "neurotic wolverine".
Trey is first seen in Summer Bay at the school. He takes pleasure in bullying many of the locals, including Jai Fernandez, who he makes racist taunts towards, and causing trouble for the teachers. His attitude problem continues to get him into many bad situations. He takes a dislike to Geoff Campbell and they feud for a long period of time. Trey repeatedly claims to have a tough home life and states he does not get on with his stepfather John and their antagonism shows when John appears on-screen. Trey also develops a grudge against Miles Copeland, but begins to make progress with Kirsty's help – he develops an attraction to her. He makes advances towards her which she rejects. In doing so, Kirsty and Miles get back together. Feeling hurt, he tries to attack Kirsty, Miles attempts to save her but Trey is hurt in the process. He presses charges against Miles who is suspended from teaching, however later Trey drops the charges.
Trey later appears to be bettering himself, he starts to grow closer to Nicole. The pair eventually admit their attraction to one another. They decide to date for a while, until they eventually have sex. The pair decide to make a sex tape and Trey leaks it in revenge, which leaves Nicole humiliated. Trey's anger becomes too much when he holds up the school bus whilst on a field trip. He then reveals he has planted a bomb underneath. After desperate pleas from everyone, many students escape unharmed. However, the bomb explodes and Hugo Austin is seriously injured in the attack. Trey is subsequently arrested for attempted murder.
Freya Duric
Freya Duric, played by Sophie Hensser, made her first on-screen appearance on 10 February 2009.In 2009, the serial embarked on two lesbian storylines, one of which involved Nicole Franklin. It featured Freya kissing Nicole, which sparked complaints. James described their dynamic, stating: "Freya's exactly what Nicole was like when she first arrived in the bay, that is why they click. Nicole relates to the wild side of Freya, but has no idea how far Freya is going to take it." James said Nicole was "angry" because she was on Freya's "not hot list". Freya kisses her to prove she thinks she is hot, James opined that Nicole did not enjoy the kiss, but was just "happy to be center of attention" and happy that people were talking about her again. Freya's actions bring Nicole realisation that she has become boring.
Freya arrives looking for Xavier Austin, with whom she used to have a relationship. She appears brash and makes it clear to him that she wants to salvage their romance. He initially tries to resist her. Freya is annoyed to discover the reason behind this is because he was dating Ruby Buckton. Freya attempts to seduce him repeatedly and succeeds. Gina makes her dislike of Freya known to Xavier and warns him off her. They continue to see each other and she stirs up trouble with locals. Freya then decides to push drugs in the Bay. She convinces Xavier to sell some drugs at Summer Bay High. After a disagreement with Nicole, she accuses her of being boring. To prove that she is not she kisses her in view of many students. This annoys Geoff who accuses her of scheming. Freya enjoys manipulating Xavier into doing her many favours. However she grows bored and later kisses Xavier's brother Hugo. She is unaware that Xavier witnesses this. She tries to blame Hugo, but he breaks up with her. Freya realises there is nothing to stay for and quickly leaves the area.
Joey Collins
Joey Collins, played by Kate Bell, she made her first on-screen appearance on 12 February 2009.Home and Away producers introduced a storyline that saw fellow character Charlie Buckton begin a relationship with Joey. Producers hoped the plot would boost the shows ratings. Over five weeks the storyline would see the pair realise that their friendship is beginning to develop into something else. As they fall for each other, Charlie and Joey share intimate kissing and dance scenes. Of a possible return for the character executive producer Welsh stated: "We always keep the door open for characters like that. She was a really popular character and Kate did a fantastic job portraying her, so we would always keep the door open."
Joey is first seen working on the boat with Aden Jefferies and Robbo Cruze. Robbo starts giving Joey a hard time each day she attends work. One day Robbo pushes Joey over board the boat, this terrifies her and she does not want to work with him. She later reveals to Aden she is a lesbian. She starts falling for Charlie after they become friends. Her brother Brett is extremely annoyed to hear about her sexuality and argues with her and announces his disapproval. He even throws her out so she goes to stay with Charlie.
Robbo becomes more annoyed at Joey's presence at work and continues to harass her. He manages to get Aden to leave him alone with Joey, he tries it on with Joey and sexually assaults her. He threatens her not to go to the police. She tells Aden about it, he and Belle Taylor try to convince her to file a complaint against him. When she does he denies it, Brett does not believe her either. Charlie manages to get Robbo's ex Tanya to file a complaint but when she arrives in town she is hit by a car and the driver flees the scene. Robbo finds Joey and attempts to drown her, only to be saved by Charlie. Robbo is arrested and charged. At this point Charlie kisses Joey.
They start a secret relationship up, but are later found out. Homophobic comments are left on Charlie's car and the whole town are gossiping about the pair. As their relationship continues Charlie seems too wrapped up in work all the time to notice Joey is still having a hard time. Charlie is still having trouble to come to terms with her sexuality. Joey later says a tearful goodbye to Charlie and leaves for another job.