List of Home and Away characters introduced in 2019
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 that appeared in 2019, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by the soap's executive producer, Lucy Addario. The 32nd season of Home and Away began airing from 18 February 2019. [|Mackenzie Booth] was introduced in June, along with [|Ian and Wendy Shaw]. August saw the debuts of [|Alex Neilson] and Teresa Masterson. Jade Lennox made her first appearance in October. [|Ari Parata] was introduced in November.
Mackenzie Booth
Mackenzie Booth, played by Emily Weir, made her first appearance on 13 June 2019. Weir's involvement in the show had been made public months in advance due to paparazzi publishing photographs of her filming at Palm Beach. A reporter from Soap World even guessed that the character was named MacKenzie Booth and would be likely be the half-sister of established character Dean Thompson. Weir's casting and character details were officially announced on 10 June. Weir was attending an audition for another acting job when her agent called to inform her that she had won the role of Mackenzie. She commented, "I just screamed and started running around like a mad woman. It was such an overwhelming feeling; a dream come true." Mackenzie is the new owner of Summer Bay restaurant Salt. Describing her character, Weir said "Mackenzie is a very fierce and independent, smart woman. We don't really know what her motivation is for coming to the Bay – there is quite an element of mystery there." Jackie Brygel of New Idea also noted that buying the restaurant does not seem like Mackenzie's only reason for moving to the Bay, and dubbed the character "mysterious" and "fiery". On 20 June, it was officially revealed that Mackenzie is Dean's half-sister.Ian and Wendy Shaw
Ian Shaw, played by Frankie J. Holden, and Wendy Shaw, played by Amanda Muggleton, made their first appearances on 27 June 2019. Of his casting, Holden stated "The role came about like everything seems to come about for me – someone, somewhere thought it would be a good idea to get me involved in the show." He also joked that he was offered the role because he had played a farmer on A Place to Call Home for six years, and the producers might have thought he seemed "like a bloke off the land". Muggleton said she was "thrilled" to be cast in Home and Away, adding "Thirty years was a long time to wait, but it was worth it! The crew, cast and creatives are so established and professional – it was made so easy." Ian and Wendy are Robbo's parents. He brings his fiancée Jasmine Delaney to visit them at the family farm. However, Wendy is "protective" of her son and tells Jasmine that she does not approve of her marrying Robbo. Ian also shares his concerns with Robbo, and he and Wendy later tell him that they want him to move back to the farm.Robbo visits his parents at their farm to introduce them to his fiancée Jasmine Delaney. Jasmine gives Ian and Wendy an invitation to their wedding, which she had wanted to personally deliver. Wendy asks Jasmine how she met Robbo, and how she feels about him having a child with Tori Morgan. Ian makes it clear that he is not happy about the baby, believing that Robbo was tricked into fatherhood. Robbo and Ian go off to do some work on the farm, leaving Jasmine alone with Wendy, who tells her that she and Ian do not approve of her or the impending marriage. Jasmine tries to reassure Wendy that she will not hurt Robbo again, after lying to him about Tori and the baby, leading to their break up. Robbo also realises that Ian has a problem with his relationship with Jasmine. Robbo tells his parents that he loves Jasmine and either they get on board, or they are leaving. Wendy and Ian talk, and deciding to accept the situation, they offer to cook a roast dinner and make up the spare room for Jasmine. They do not attend the wedding due to car trouble.
Months later, Ian and Wendy come to Summer Bay to meet their granddaughter Grace Morgan for the first time. They disapprove of Robbo's living situation, and later ask him and Jasmine to move to the countryside and raise Grace on the farm. Ian talks with Jasmine, who refuses to put any pressure on Robbo, while Wendy talks with her son, who accepts their offer. Robbo and Jasmine inform Wendy and Ian that they will move to the farm in four weeks time, after the trial of the Ouroboros gang is over. However, when Tori wakes from her coma, the couple change their plans. Shortly after, Wendy and Ian learn that Robbo has died. They return to the Bay for his funeral. Wendy helps Jasmine pick out a suit for Robbo to wear and some photos to be placed in the casket. Jasmine brings the couple to meet Tori for the first time and see Grace. Ian gives a eulogy at the funeral and tells the mourners a story about Robbo and his friend Lance Salisbury, whose father is in attendance. Wendy comforts Ian when he breaks down. At the wake, Wendy tells Jasmine that she is welcome at the farm any time, while Tori says that she will make sure that Grace knows all about her father. Ian thanks everyone for looking after their son during his time in the Bay, and the couple leave.
Wendy returns to the Bay after Jasmine informs her and Ian that she is pregnant. She spends time with Grace, and tells Tori that she does not need to attend Jasmine's scan, but Jasmine says that she wants Tori there as they are family. As the scan proceeds, Tori and Jasmine realise that there is no baby. Wendy asks how a woman can have all the symptoms but not be pregnant, and briefly wonders if Jasmine made it up, but Jasmine tells her the pregnancy test was positive. Tori confirms that Jasmine experienced a phantom pregnancy because of her grief at Robbo's death. Wendy later comforts Jasmine and tells her that they need to concentrate on Grace to get them through, before leaving for home. Weeks later, Jasmine shows up at the farm and stays with Ian and Wendy. She does not tell them why she has left the Bay and helps out around the farm. Her friends Irene Roberts and Colby Thorne come to the farm and tell Ian and Wendy about Jasmine's recent behaviour towards Grace and Tori. Wendy and Ian agree that Jasmine needs some help and tell her that she should accept Irene and Colby's support. They also tell Jasmine that she cannot stay with them permanently because of the AVO against her, which could see them lose access to Grace while she is there. Jasmine agrees to return to the Bay and the Shaws say goodbye to her. When Wendy has a heart attack, Jasmine goes to the farm to help out and decides to stay there permanently.
Alex Neilson
Alex Neilson, played by Zoe Ventoura, made her first appearance on 22 August 2019. Ventoura's casting and character details were announced on 8 April 2019, a week after she began filming. Ventoura was living in Los Angeles when she was contacted by Home and Away producers about the role. She recalled, "I was sent the character information and asked if I was interested. I immediately loved the character – that's what got me in. She's strong and bold and smart and compelling. I loved how they have created her and written her on the page, and the storyline they have planned for her. It just seemed like a no-brainer."Alex is Summer Bay's new doctor and head of emergency, who takes over the position while Tori Morgan takes maternity leave. Having played a nurse on Packed to the Rafters, Ventoura relished the chance to play a doctor. She admitted that she was nervous about the medical terms, but she was looking forward to the challenge and wanted to do the role justice. She revealed that her first day took place on the hospital set and described it as "a real baptism of fire, a really hectic, crazy trauma situation" that her character is in control of. Ventoura described her character as "a complex woman with a lot of layers", while Jackie Brygel of New Idea said Alex has "a fabulously intriguing past". Brygel also said that Alex may be involved in a romance during her time in the Bay.
On her first day in charge of the Northern Districts Hospital ED, Alex attempts to treat a man who has been tortured by the Ouroboros gang, and learns that nurse Jasmine Delaney has to be accompanied an AFP officer. She questions whether the hospital is safe for Jasmine, and tells her that she has a duty of care to the other staff and patients. She later catches her having lunch with Willow Harris in an empty room. Willow offers Alex a free personal training session at the local gym, which she accepts. Alex treats Raffy Morrison after she has an epileptic seizure. She tells Raffy that she too has epilepsy and once had a seizure during an HSC exam. Raffy is inspired to try alternative treatments for her condition. Alex uses hypnotherapy to help Jasmine's husband Robbo recover his lost memories. While he is under, Robbo attacks Alex and pins her against the wall. Mason Morgan tries to help her and Robbo snaps out of it and leaves, but Alex persuades him to try again. Raffy talks with Alex when she suffers another seizure and mentions that Mason ran an illegal CBD oil trial for her. Alex tells Mason that she has put in a good word for his internship at Northern Districts. When he later tries flirting with her, Alex tells him that she is gay. Alex continues her PT sessions with Willow and they grow close. She also finds a new medicinal marijuana trial for Raffy and treats [|Scott Larkin] when he is shot. Willow later thanks Alex for her support and tells her that she feels like she has known her for years, which leads Alex to kiss Willow.
Teresa Masterson
Teresa Masterson, played by Simone McAullay, made her first appearance on 28 August 2019. McAullay previously appeared in the serial as Vivian Anderson in 2007. She told a New Idea writer that she received the offer to play Teresa "out of the blue." She explained, "I've certainly come to a place now where I'm a lot more interested in the full spectrum of characters and that's why, when this role came up, I thought, 'Brilliant! I'd love to!'" McAullay also said that her character "has a lot of things going on", so she was happy to accept the part. Teresa is an activist who befriends Irene Roberts at a support group. A New Idea wrote "Simone is undoubtedly set to leave a truly memorable mark on the Bay."Teresa is a member of a victims support group that Irene Roberts attends. She records a video about her sexual assault for Leah Patterson's blog, which Irene watches in preparation for her trial for attacking [|Tommy O'Reilly]. Teresa later arranges a supportive protest outside the courthouse during Irene's trial. She comes to Summer Bay to tell Irene and Leah about the next part of the plan, which involves Irene telling her story to the media. Irene refuses, as it may affect her case. Teresa reacts badly saying that Irene was more than happy with the group's support, but is not willing to give anything back. Leah later meets with Teresa and offers to take up her cause on her blog. Teresa continues to support Irene as her verdict comes in. After learning that Tommy has launched a civil suit against Irene, Teresa offers her help to fight it. She suggests that they publicly shame Tommy, and put enough pressure on him so he drops the case. Irene and Leah tell Teresa that they need to be careful, but she counters that Tommy could still go free, and suggests they make posters and online comments calling Tommy a rapist.
Teresa later finds Irene on the beach and warns her about trusting Leah, as she has been blocked from her website. Teresa reiterates that Tommy is going to walk free and wants to take action. Irene tells Teresa that she is grateful for her help, but she needs to obey the law so her hands are tied. Tommy's victim Bella Nixon thanks Teresa for her protesting. The following day, Teresa turns up at the pier covered in blood and tells Irene and Bella that her hands were not tied, so she fixed it. Bella's brother Constable Colby Thorne comes over and Teresa says she stopped Tommy for Irene and Bella. He takes her to the station, where she admits to fatally stabbing Tommy at his rehab centre. While visiting Teresa, Irene says she cannot condone her actions, while Leah mentions that Bella and the other girls will not get justice now. Teresa tells them that she does not regret what she has done.