List of Home and Away characters introduced in 1995
Home and Away is an Australian soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in 1995, by order of first appearance. They were all introduced by the show's then executive producer John Holmes. The 8th season of Home and Away began airing on 16 January 1995. The first introduction of the year was Daniel Goddard as drug dealer [|Eric Phillips]. Adrian Lee began portraying teacher [|Andrew Warren] in March. Nic Testoni joined the serial in April as Travis Nash. Kristy Wright took on the role of Chloe Richards in June. Kimberley Joseph began playing Joanne Brennan from July. Katrina Hobbs began playing doctor Kelly Watson in August. Nick Freedman debuted as Alex Bennett in October, while Quinn Jackson also made her first appearance. The following month, David Ritchie arrived as Alex's father, Saul.
Eric Phillips
Eric Phillips, played by Daniel Goddard. Goddard signed to guest star in the show for six weeks. Eric is characterised as being calculating and has muscles. Goddard told Victoria Ross from Inside Soap that "Eric can be manipulative and he knows how to get people on side". Jack Wilson and Curtis Reed befriend Eric and ask him for help getting into shape, he reveals that he uses steroids. Goddard explained that Eric agrees to help the duo "but things turn sour when Eric suggests that Jack try steroids to build up his muscles even more." The actor revealed that Eric only leaves Summer Bay after causing a lot of trouble. Goddard's stint on Home and Away proved popular with viewers and he received much fan mail. He added that there was a possibility of Eric returning once again. Ross said that Eric was a "bad boy" character with better biceps than Shane Parrish. She added that Eric's arrival had the Summer Bay females "hearts fluttering" and the males "reaching for their dumbbells." A writer from the Home and Away Official Collector's Edition said that "through 1995, Goddard caused a storm of trouble in Home and Away as bad boy Eric Phillips".Eric arrives in town and makes friends with Jack and Curtis. They are impressed with his physique and asks for tips. He tells them he uses steroids. Curtis is reluctant but Jack is determined, even more so after Curtis bests him in an arm-wrestling contest. Shannon Reed takes an interest in Eric and they begin dating. Shannon's friends and family warn her about Eric but she refuses to listen. Eric gets violent with Shannon and Jack intervenes. Eric then leaves Summer Bay.
Andrew Warren
Andrew Warren, played by Adrian Lee, made his first appearance on 16 March 1995 and departed on 3 May 1995. Andrew was introduced into serial as the former lover of established character Donna Bishop who arrives in order to reconcile with her. Lee told Victoria Ross from Inside Soap that Donna is "in big trouble" when she gets back together with Andrew again. He explained that "there are a lot of men like Andrew who seem like nice guys on the surface but there is something that just makes them flip." In his case jealousy is the trigger of his violence, each time "he sees Donna with another man he just lashes out". After Andrew witnesses Donna with Rob Storey and Travis Nash he hits Donna and bruises her eye. Lee researched the issue by looking at associated text and female victims of domestic violence. He felt "edgy" about playing issue led storylines, but he was more inclined to portray because the story behind the abuse was an important subject. However, Lee claimed that as an actor he would attempt to find excuses for Andrew's behaviour. Lee wanted to return to the serial for another stint. He concluded that "it's so much fun getting to act out a horrible character; I just loved being a baddie."Andrew arrives and immediately gets Shane Parrish offside by parking in a handicapped spot as his fiancée Angel Brooks is in a wheelchair. Andrew takes the position of Maths teacher for Year 11 and Donna is horrified to find him at the same school as her. She tells him she never wants to see him again. Rob Storey, Donna's friend who also teaches at the school warns Andrew away. He is made to feel less than welcome in town when several people learn of his violent past with Donna. Andrew becomes Jack Wilson's tutor, but Michael Ross is reluctant to let him continue with the tutoring. Eventually he gives in. After a while people begin to see Andrew is genuinely trying to change and their opinion changes when he helps Irene Roberts after she collapses from stress and is able to raise Sally Fletcher's grades in order for her to take Maths classes at Year 11 level. In spite of this, Donna refuses to believe it and slaps him only to feel that she is no better than him. Donna apologise to Andrew and realises he is trying to change and forgives him and he promises never to hit her again.
Andrew and Donna reconcile much to Rob's horror. Rob tries to get Donna to see the sense and lashes out at Andrew, but this only elevates Andrew in Donna's estimation and she is hostile towards Rob and tells him to stay away. Rob apologises grudingly and accepts the relationship. Andrew asks Donna to move in with him and she agrees. Travis Nash returns to town and Donna and Rob spend a lot of time together reminiscing about the day they all met ten years earlier. After witnessing, Donna having fun with her friends, Andrew becomes jealous and when he sees Donna give Rob a kiss for helping her move some furniture in Andrew's flat, he hits her, and ends up trashing the flat after Donna leaves him. Donna moves out and when she comes for the rest of her things, Andrew tries to stop her leaving and almost hits her again, but is interrupted by Rob who arrives in his car and rescues Donna by punching Andrew. The police arrive and arrest Andrew issuing him a summons and a restraining order and he resigns from the school and leaves the bay.
The episode featuring the climax of Donna's domestic abuse at the hands of Andrew was
nominated for "Best Episode in a Television Drama Serial" at the Australian Film Institute Awards in 1995.
Travis Nash
Travis Nash, played by Nic Testoni, made his first on screen appearance on 10 April 1995 and departed on 11 August 1999. For his portrayal of Travis, Testoni won the "Most Popular New Talent" Logie Award in 1996. A year later, Testoni was nominated for "Most Popular Actor". In 1998, Travis and Rebecca were named "Best Couple" at the Inside Soap Awards. They received a nomination in the same category the following year. Judy Johnson of The Sun-Herald branded Travis a "dreamboat fisherman."Chloe Richards
Chloe Richards, played by Kristy Wright. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 28 June 1995.Wright was asked to join the regular cast of Home and Away as Chloe, after initially appearing as a background extra in the series. The episode involving Chloe's confrontation with her rapist Brad Cooper 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. For her portrayal of Chloe, Wright was nominated for Best actress at the 1998 Logie Awards and was nominated the following year for "Sexiest Female" at The Inside Soap Awards.
Kelly Watson
Kelly Watson, played by Katrina Hobbs, made her first appearance on 28 August 1995. Hobbs joined Home and Away in August 1995. To prepare for the role she followed doctors around Sydney's St. Vincent hospital and took notes. In an interview with Daniel Dasey from The Sydney Morning Herald, Hobbs told of how her fellow cast members labelled her "Doctor Death", following the death of Shane Parrish. She quit the serial in 1997.Joanne Brennan
Joanne Brennan, portrayed by Kimberley Joseph. Joseph originally auditioned for the part of Donna Bishop, but lost out to Nicola Quilter. Joanne was introduced as old school acquaintance of Angel Parrish who comes back to make her life a misery. Joseph, who previously appeared in axed Channel 9 soap opera told Rachel Browne of the Sun-Herald: "It's a good change of pace for me because my character in Paradise Beach was so saccharin-sweet", she said.Joanne is a former schoolmate of Angel Parrish. They meet when Angel applies for a modelling job with [|Raoul Irving]. Joanne is rude and bitchy towards Angel when she turns down an offer to share the prize money of $10,000. Joanne takes a position at Summer Bay High as a secretary and secretly begins dealing drugs to students. Chloe Richards is one of her customers. Joanne seduces Steven Matheson away from nurse Lindsay Simons. When a small bag of speed is found at the school, Joanne accuses Chloe of informing on her. In order to divert attention from the drug matter, Joanne accuses her employer, principal Donald Fisher of sexual harassment. Chloe's conscience gets the better of her and Donald is cleared and Joanne is arrested for dealing.
She is paroled several months later and schemes to con Simon Broadhurst out of his money by feigning an interest in him. Angel, who is now interested in Simon after previously rejecting him, is upset by this. Joanne and Simon prepare to leave the bay but Simon promptly dumps her on the roadside and chooses Angel after learning of Joanne's lying and scheming. Joanne is then picked up by another rich man in a limousine and leaves the bay.