A Country Practice

Nov 18, 1981

A pregnant woman from out of town admits herself to Wandin Valley Hospital with signs of foetal distress. Despite his reluctance, Terence is forced to operate when another doctor is unable to reach the town in time. Delivering a baby girl, the hospital staff are surprised by Mrs Myers' disinterest and apathy toward her daughter, whom she says is ""not mine"". Meanwhile, Simon has to refuse local girl Jenny Secombe's request for the birth control pill. At fifteen, Jenny needs parental consent to obtain the pill, but is afraid to ask her father. Shirley finds she is receiving unwanted attention from the recently widowed Frank Gilroy, while Simon continues to pursue Vicky, despite her insistence that they remain friends.

Nov 19, 1981

Nov 25, 1981

Ladies' Auxiliary President and part-time hospital administrator Elaine MacKay is killed in a car accident at the Five Mile Bridge. As the town grapples with the loss, speculation begins as to why Elaine was in a car with her husband's friend—Ian Sutton—heading out of town. Molly and Brendan Jones arrive in town.

Nov 26, 1981

Frank awaits Peter Gleeson's blood results to see if he was driving under the influence of alcohol when the accident that killed Elaine MacKay occured. Gossip begins to circulate in town that Ian and Eliane were having an affair. Andy, increasingly speculative as to why Elaine was traveling in Ian's car (which was heading to Sydney), goes to see Ian in the hospital. Molly adjusts to nights alone on the farm.

Dec 2, 1981

Tension is high between some members of the community and the seasonal fruit pickers, who are in town for the orange harvest. While making a house call at the Cameron farm, Terence spots one of the picker's children, Lexy Popovich. At first thinking that the child has malnutrition (because of his swollen stomach), Terence comes to the conclusion that the child has a hydatic cyst. After much convincing, Lexy's mother Sandra allows Terence to operate. The operation is a success. However, Sandra—who is attempting to hold down her job, regularly visit Lexy at the hospital, and, resultingly, is not taking adequate care of her health—collaspes whilst working. Meanwhile, Shirley tries to dissuade Frank's interest in her by cooking for him (showing, she thinks, that she would be a bad wife). However, the plan backfires when Frank announces that he can cook and proceeds to whip up a gourmet meal.

Dec 3, 1981

Dec 9, 1981

Simon meets former nurse Emily Page, who knew his grandfather Charlie. Befriending Emily—who is beginning to feel the effects of crippling arthritis—he is shocked to learn that she plans to commit suicide when she feels the illness has progressed to such a point that living would constitute a burden to those around her. Terence persuades Pat Turner to admit her belligerent father Artie to the hospital so that she can have a long-overdue vacation. While at the hospital, Artie engages in a war of wills with his nurse, Brendan. Bill Ferguson continues to visit Sandra at the hospital. Molly buys an old, sick cow, much to the disappointment of Vicky.

Dec 10, 1981

Dec 16, 1981

Dec 17, 1981

Dec 23, 1981

Dec 24, 1981

Dec 30, 1981

Dec 31, 1981

Jan 5, 1982

Jan 6, 1982

Jan 12, 1982

Jan 13, 1982

The team at the hospital - with the help of Shirley, Frank, Vicky, and Robert Bowen - work together to treat the passengers of the bus accident. Molly confronts the bank manager about her loan. After burning his hands at the accident scene, Frank moves in with Shirley and Vicky so that Shirley can take care of him. Robert expresses some reserved praise for Simon.

Jan 19, 1982

Vicky secures a high-profile job treating a Yarraman colt trained by Neil Stephens, but worries that Stephens is excessively pushing his reluctant daughter Robin into constant showjumping training. Meanwhile, Terence becomes concerned about Neil's wife Jill, who requests that Terence sterilize her. Simon suspects that a young girl is being physically abused by her father. Molly decides to go into business breeding turkeys. Marta spends an evening at Terence's vineyard with Alex Popovich. Shirley helps Frank work on his article for the Horticultural Society.

Jan 20, 1982

After Robin is admitted to hospital as the result of her horse-riding accident, Simon searches for the truth about the previous injuries - which were treated by Terence - that become apparent on her X-rays. Molly decides to start business as a yabbi farmer. Marta's friendship with Alex continues to deepen, with Alex gifting her with a wood-carving of The General. Shirley's attempts to get Frank to move back into his own house with a farewell dinner backfire.

Jan 26, 1982

Jan 27, 1982

Feb 2, 1982

Terence comes to the aid of a woman suffering from agoraphobia. Molly assists at the veterinary practice when Vicky falls ill, while Simon uses this as an opportunity to get closer to her. A three-year-old child is treated by the team after falling off a moving plough. Shirley continues to replace her craving for cigarettes with food. Marta learns that the Hospital Workers' Union has advised workers to strike for a pay rise, leaving only the medical staff to run the hospital.

Feb 3, 1982

Shirley, Molly, and Vicky assist at the hospital during the strike. Simon performs his first operation in the valley on Kathy Pieri. However, what is at first thought to be an appendicitis turns out to be something quite different. Terence worries that problems at home may be the cause of Brett Morgan's anxiety and inability to study or sleep. Vicky becomes upset when Terence refers to his wife in Sydney.

Feb 9, 1982

Feb 10, 1982

Aug 10, 1982

Aug 11, 1982

Sep 7, 1982

Sep 8, 1982

Sep 14, 1982

Sep 15, 1982

Sep 21, 1982

Sep 22, 1982

Sep 28, 1982

Sep 29, 1982

Oct 5, 1982

Oct 6, 1982

Oct 12, 1982

Oct 13, 1982

Oct 19, 1982

Oct 20, 1982

Oct 26, 1982

Oct 27, 1982

Nov 2, 1982

Nov 3, 1982

Nov 9, 1982

Nov 10, 1982

Nov 16, 1982

Nov 17, 1982

May 1, 1982

Jun 1, 1982

Dec 1, 1982

Jan 2, 1983

Feb 2, 1983

Aug 2, 1983

Sep 2, 1983

Jan 3, 1983

Feb 3, 1983

Sep 3, 1983

May 4, 1983

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Dec 4, 1983

Mar 5, 1983

Apr 5, 1983

Oct 5, 1983

Nov 5, 1983

Jan 6, 1983

Jul 6, 1983

Aug 6, 1983

Jun 7, 1983

Jun 7, 1983

Aug 1, 1984

Feb 8, 1983

Mar 8, 1983

Mar 8, 1983

Apr 8, 1983

Oct 8, 1983

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Jun 9, 1983

Jul 9, 1983

Apr 10, 1983

May 10, 1983

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Dec 10, 1983

Oct 31, 1984

Jan 11, 1983

Feb 11, 1983

Aug 11, 1983

Sep 11, 1983

Jan 2, 1984

Jul 2, 1984

Aug 2, 1984

Jul 3, 1984

Aug 3, 1984

May 4, 1984

Jun 4, 1984

Dec 4, 1984

Mar 5, 1984

Apr 5, 1984

Oct 5, 1984

Nov 5, 1984

Jan 6, 1984

Jul 6, 1984

Aug 6, 1984

May 7, 1984

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Feb 8, 1984

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Apr 10, 1984

May 10, 1984

Nov 10, 1984

Dec 10, 1984

Jan 11, 1984

Feb 11, 1984

Aug 11, 1984

Sep 11, 1984

Jul 12, 1984

Aug 12, 1984

Maggie informs Bob that she will be making alternative living arrangements, which Bob takes as a personal insult. An attractive female doctor arrives at the clinic to help while Terence is away. Shirley is involved in a bad car accident, and Simon decides it's time he and Vicky took a holiday.

Feb 6, 1985

Feb 12, 1985

A colourful character comes to the Valley and creates quite a stir with his potions and magic cures. Bob and Cookie believe they have stumbled across a magic cure that will make them rich. There is a state of emergency in the Valley when they get a freak rain storm and some of the local farmers have to be

Brendan is left in charge of the farm while Molly visits her mother. Simon decides it's time for Shirley to update her files, putting himself in an embarrassing situation in doing so. Esme creates some mystery when she gives away her most precious belongings to her friends and a young boy's puts himself in danger to attract attention.

A young heroin addict is found unidentified on the street and is admitted to hospital. Brendan is finding it hard to cope while Molly is away and gets some unexpected assistance.

May 3, 1985

Terence suspects the worst when one of his elderly patients, depressed after a heart attack, says he and his wife are going away. Brendan tried his hand at blackmailing Cookie and Simon gets into a disastrous situation from which he benefits in the end.

Mar 6, 1985

Mar 13, 1985

Matron Sloan is suspicious when she hears her arch rival from Burrigan hospital is coming to visit. Vicky takes an instant dislike to a once famous playwright who arrives in the Valley. When Brendan gets an attractive job offer he turns to Vicky and Simon for advice.

Mar 13, 1986

Mar 19, 1985

Matron Sloan forces Judy to enter a beauty contest where she shocks the judges with her speech. A housewife and a mother prove it's never too late to learn. Brendan and Vicky have a surprise for Molly when she returns. Frank arrests a respected citizen of the Valley for wife bashing.

Mar 20, 1985

Mar 26, 1985

Frank is furious when he can't discover who wrote the bad review about his play. Brendan organises a surprise birthday party for Molly, and Judy helps a young girl cope with the pressures of adolescence. Simon is ecstatic to discover that Vicky is pregnant.

Mar 27, 1985

Apr 16, 1985

Terence suggests to Molly that she should go to Sydney for more tests. Johnathan puts himself in an embarrassing situation when he agrees to be a guest speaker for the literary society, and Vicky gets frustrated at being treated like an invalid because she is pregnant.

Apr 17, 1985

Apr 23, 1985

An old enemy of Molly's reappears in the valley at the same time as Simon's brother and his family arrive from the United States. While Cookie is laid up in hospital, his friends take over at the club. Molly's gentle manner with animals and children rubs off on the spoiled young girl.

Apr 24, 1985

Apr 30, 1985

Bob and Cookie get themselves in hot water when they buy a race horse. Retired ballet dancer, Sir Adam Dormin returns to the Valley to spend what he thinks will be his last days but when he sees the potential in a young dancer, he decides to continue his teaching.

May 1, 1985

May 7, 1985

A friend of Shirley's arrives and is quite taken with Terence. When Terence and Judy return from a night out at a school reunion they find evidence of a prowler in her flat. Karen's attraction to Terence gets quite out of hand. Molly is elected to council and her first fight is against Muldoon and Funland.

May 8, 1985

May 14, 1985

Vicky reacts angrily to the attention Simon is paying to one of his patients. Cookie invests in some garden gnomes and is disturbed when he discovers that some of them are missing. Vicky puts herself in a dangerous situation when she helps a young boy trapped in a mine shaft.

May 15, 1985

May 21, 1985

Molly and Brendan get an attractive offer for the farm from Councillor Muldoon. Vicky suspects an outbreak of anthrax in the goats and is shocked when she hears some bad news from Molly's mother.

May 22, 1985

When the Burrigan Examiner refers to Wandin Valley as a boring place to live, war is declared between the two towns. Bob is surprised at the disinterest Molly shows towards the fight against Burrigan. Simon comes up with the idea of holding a car rally between the two towns to prove who is better. Molly gets admitted to hospital when she takes a turn for the worse.

Molly is having reverse barrier nursing, not allowing her to see any of her friends. Terence tries to make it better for her putting her by an observation window so she can see them. While she is in hospital everyone is feeling useless. To help Molly – they decide to finish building Farmland for her.

An attractive French student vet arrives to assist Vicky with her practice. Bob's absence causes Matron Sloan a great deal of concern and Judy tries her hand at playing cupid. Matron Sloan helps Bob cope with his grief over Molly's death in more ways than one.

Simon suggests to Vicky that she should employ some help around the house. Bob believes that Maggie needs protecting, so invests in a guard dog. The hidden truth about one of the hospital's patients is leaked by Judy.

Maggie takes a special interest in a stranger who comes for a job at the hospital. Fatso is missing and Simon and Vicky are terrified when they hear a wombat has been shot. Simon gets some unexpected training for the sleepless nights he can expect with the baby.

Brendan arrives home from Adelaide with some news that shocks his friends. Shirley gets involved with setting up a half-way house for three patients. Brendan overreacts when he can't find Chloë and believes that one of the patients has taken her.

Bert and Rigby live on the edge of the Valley tip. Bert is eagerly planning a trip to Surface Paradise. Both he and Rigby are saving the bus fare when their plan begins to go wrong.

It is Chloë's first day at kindy and she is quick to make friends with Tiffany. When Brendan is invited to the Blair house for dinner, he witnesses first hand the single mother's inability to cope with her child in a normal manner.

An old university friend arrives in the Valley with his young son; Muldoon tries to convince Terence that his aging aunt is incapable of looking after herself. Esme and Cookie believe they have found a dead body when they go fishing in the dam. Brendan is feeling the pressure of being a single parent.

Judy gets quite a surprise when a relative arrives in the Valley. Communication in the Valley breaks down as Esme takes control of the switchboard. Simon and Terence become rivals on the tennis court after Simon finds another partner.

Jo has decided to stay in the Valley and live with Judy. She enrolls in Burrigan High and begins to settle down. Jo gets involved in trying to break down a group of bullies. Brendan is not coping and begins to hit the bottle, Maggie notices and asks him to take leave of absence and warns—if he refuses, she will suspend him.

Bob hears of Brendan's irresponsible behaviour and takes charge of the situation, moving in with him and Chloë. Vicky gets some help on her rounds by a vet she used to train under. Terence's performance in a quiz show is interrupted when he's called to an emergency.

Brendan rents a beach house in Adelaide, but soon discovers he isn't the only one staying. He manages to talk openly with the stranger about the loss of Molly and the difficulty he has had coping without her. Simon and Vicky bring the twins home to overly enthusiastic Frank and Shirley.

Brendan surprises his friends on his return to the Valley when he tells them he is quitting nursing and selling the farm. Jo finds herself in Judy's bad books again after getting yet another pet. Brendan gets himself a job without even applying for the position.

Terence gets conned into answering medical questions on the quiz show, and is concerned that the caller has symptoms of typhoid. Brendan strikes up rapport with a visiting snake doctor from the city. Maggie has a nervous moment when she meets Russell face to face.

Esme shocks the Valley when she returns from Mudgee looking like a new woman. Judy hopes she'll be promoted to Deputy Matron. Brendan says goodbye to something that's been part of his life for three years. Frank investigates the selling of drugs at Burrigan High after one of the pupils has an overdose.

The good news for Cookie is he's going to inherit some money; the bad news is his wife is arriving in town. Maggie offers Russell a place to stay which causes friction between her and Terence. Maggie also receives a marriage proposal from someone she admires and cares for.

Esme forces Cookie into buying a taxi with the money he inherited. Brendan brings a ten-year-old girl with polio to the hospital after her mother deserts her. Vicky gets a once in a lifetime opportunity to work in the States, and Bob gets electrocuted and is rushed to hospital.

Frank gets some help at the station and is surprised when he finds out it is a woman. Vicky and Simon get mixed reactions over their decision to go to the States. Suspicious circumstances surround the robbing of the Valley's bank when some money isn't found, and Frank investigates the robbery.

Jeff St. John surprises the Valley when he arrives unexpectedly. Terence meets a school friend of his son's and is surprised to hear from him of his son's antics. Vicky learns that she must leave for the States in a week's time and is worried about Simon's reaction.

Sep 11, 1986

Vicky gets a shock when the new vet Ben arrives; he's not what she expected. Jo gets in trouble with Frank when she disobeys his orders. Frank gives Shirley the surprise of her life. Vicky says goodbye to her family and friends in the Valley in the most unconventional manner.

Esme is not impressed when she meets the new city girl, Kelly. Ben moves into his new house only to discover he is not the only one living there. Frank is sent on a wild goose chase by a man who is set on avenging his father's death.

Kelly and Ben have a few arguments over their living arrangements. Maggie arrives home to find her sister and her boyfriend have come to stay. Simon finds a new locum to take over his practice and Terence discovers he trained him.

Kelly and Cookie double book the club for a function which results in chaos. Brendan worries about an old patient at the hospital who doesn't want to go home, and is furious when he is accused of taking advantage of a lonely old lady.

Oct 15, 1986

Oct 16, 1986

Oct 22, 1986

Oct 23, 1986

Oct 29, 1986

Oct 30, 1986

Nov 5, 1986

Nov 6, 1986

Jan 7, 1986

Kelly and Cookie think up a fund-raising idea for the club and decide on a darts competition. Matron Sloane and Shirley are set to challenge each other at the darts competition.

Jan 8, 1986

Terence gets a surprise when his son arrives earlier than expected. Simon is worried that Shirley may be getting too involved with other people's problems.

Terence has the Valley wondering why he's making frequent visits to Burrigan. Kelly arranges for a journalist friend from Sydney to visit Wandin Valley to write a review on the club.

The Matron has hospital staff and friends worried when she becomes forgetful and doesn't turn up for work. Judy tries to arrange a romantic dinner with Ben Green.Terence worries about C.K's attitude. Terence takes C.K on a camping trip. Meanwhile, Maggie Sloane has a hard time coming to grips with the changes in her life.

Brendan arranges an evening out with Simon and everyone worries when the pair are late getting back. Kelly is surprised to hear that Judy Loveday believes she and Ben are going out together. Simon begins to wonder if he'll be missed by the locals when he leaves to join Vicky and the twins. Simon's friends gather to give hime a fond farewell.

Kelly is shocked when her old boyfriend arrives back on the scene. Frank is suspicious when he sees Shirley with another man and Bob and Cookie invent a mechanical scarecrow. A young girl's promising future is shattered after further tests prove she has a brain disorder.

Kelly is assigned to look after the animals when Ben is admitted to hospital with chicken pox. Bob and Cookie are desperately trying to gather votes to be elected on the Rotex Committee.

Tension between Bob and Cookie gets to boiling point when Cookie moves out of Bob's house. Kelly is thrilled when she receives an order for 50 litres of home-made ice cream. Cookie is furious when Bob runs into Esme in the taxi and refuses to pay for damages.

Cookie seems like he's on the verge of having a nervous breakdown. Cookie has a horrific car accident and the hospital staff fight to save his life.

Bob thinks of a fund-raising idea to help Cookie with his money problems. It's Wandin Valley versus Burrigan in the dance competition, with Frank and Shirley desperate to win.

Shirley has a nervous first night on help line when the caller is a ten-year-old boy afraid of being left alone. Ben and Kelly are a bit worried that their new loo is going to look a bit outrageous.

Shirley has a nervous first night on the help line when the caller is a ten-year-old boy afraid of being left alone. Ben and Kelly are a bit worried that their new loo is going to look a bit outrageous. Mr Muldoon tries to blackmail Kelly into a partnership with her ice-cream business.

Kelly writes a light hearted article about the residents of Wandin Valley. Brendan is upset when he hears that Sarah Anderson is leaving the valley to take on a full-time teaching position elsewhere.

Judy is put in an embarrassing situation when she forgets the combination of the hospital safe. Kelly's negative article on Dr. Wood causes him to resign and leaves Kelly very unpopular amongst the locals.

Judy advertises for a new flatmate and finds Mr. Perfect. Cookie relies on Esme's dreams for a winner in the Burrigan Cup.

When a horse trainer is suspended for drugging her race horse, Kelly sets out to prove her innocence. Kelly is warned by Austin Matthews to stay out of his affairs, or she could end up in serious trouble.

Jo gets a job with Bob Hatfield so she can help Judy save some money for the house she wants to buy. Kelly uncovers some interesting facts on the boarding house.

Terence is thrilled when he finally finds a doctor to replace Simon. Jo Loveday makes a decision to stay in Wandin Valley.

Ben is confused by all the attention he's getting from the single women in the valley. Frank shoots a man to protect a mother and her children.

Shirley is concerned when Frank refuses to discuss a shooting. Frank is unsure of his future in the force when there is an inquiry into the details of the shooting.

Shirley asks Terence for advice when her relationship with Frank worsens. Frank gets a visit from the police psychologist when he admits he needs help.

Bob is angry when no-one wants to be a volunteer fire fighter. A fire threatens to sweep through Wandin Valley.

Ben and Jo care for the animals that were injured in the fire. The valley regulars put on a benefit concert for the fire victims.

Shirley and Frank have an unexpected visit form Vicky and the twins. Jealousy raises its ugly head when Jo Loveday vies for Peter Manning's affection. Vicky is put in a terrifying situation when Charlotte is abducted by a distressed young woman.

Peter Manning's sister tries for the nursing position at the hospital. Alex impresses hospital staff when she performs her first operation. Judy and Daley enter a television dating show. Secrecy surrounds Bob and Terrence's entry for the bathtub derby.

Judy tries to impress her partner on the Gold Coast but makes a mess of things. Judy returns from the Gold Coast with thoughts of travelling overseas.

Ben agrees to go to a rock concert with Donna but mysterious things happen along the way. Jo convinces Judy that she should travel and see the world.

Shirley organises a petition against the impending army base in Wandin Valley. The prime minister makes a special appearance at a rock concert to show his support to the kids of Burrigan High on their stand against a nuclear base in the Valley.

Jo feels that Frank is becoming over protective when he questions her every move. Alex gets scared when her furniture appears to move and she hears strange noises in the house.

Jo Loveday gets her wires crossed and tells everyone that Shirley is pregnant. Terence goes on a fishing weekend and finds an abused little girl who lives in the bush. Friends caution Terence on his involvement with Bethany and suggest she should be placed in an institution rather than remain in his care.

Terence sees C.K. while in Sydney with Bethany, but the relationship becomes very strained. Alex agrees to have a house warming party under the proviso that Donna organise it.

Terrence is in the firing line when town gossip questions his motives toward Bethany. Terence comes to terms with losing Bethany by turning to liquor.

Donna sets out to save the town hall when she hears that the council is going to build a shopping centre. Alex puts her medical opinions aside when an old man explains why he should be left alone with his suffering.

Jo Loveday interviews the patients in the Muldoon Wing for a school movie project. Peter gets quite a surprise when Alex takes him out on a date. Donna conspires with the Muldoon patients to keep a secret from Matron Sloan.

Alex Fraser embarrasses Peter when she uses him as a medical guinea pig for nurses' training. A young boy who feels he's an outcast from his school mates tries to kill himself.

A shy man with facial deformities is admitted to hospital for observation. Terrence worries that Alex is forgetting one of his patient's feelings when she asks to do further studies on his condition.

Shirley refuses to move back home and accepts an offer to live with Matron Sloan. Practical realities of using a surrogate mother cause nightmares for the people involved.

Terence is lost for words when his ex-wife and son arrive at the clinic without warning. C.K. tries devious means to bring Terence and Rowena together.

Oct 15, 1987

When Rowena declares she is broke C.K. decides to quit school and join the workforce. Terence causes an argument with Rowena when he blames her for C.K. wanting to leave school.

Alex worries about a young couple's ability to cope with parenthood. The strain of nursing her newborn baby takes its toll on a young mother.

Esme is excited at the prospect of meeting an old friend when she suspects he's going to propose marriage. The Wandin Valley residents put on a hilarious performance of "A Midsummers Night Dream" as it's never been seen before.

A woman who lives for her daughter's success pays the price when she is admitted to hospital suffering from exhaustion and malnutrition. Donna and Ben's curiosity gets the better of them when a mysterious parcel arrives for Peter.

A student teacher, conscious of her size, becomes the recipient of some cruel jokes by Peter Manning's pupils. Burrigan High prepare for a school debate against their arch rivals at Foxwood.

Dec 30, 1986

A young married couple move into a house on a new estate and Bob becomes very ill after doing some work at their house. Tension develops between Alex and Matron Sloan as they try to work out Bob's illness with Terence away.

Dec 31, 1986

Jan 5, 1987

Jo is saddened to learn her mother has moved away and left no forwarding address. Donna and Jo travel to Rottnest Island and see the native Quokka firsthand.

Jan 6, 1987

Frank and Shirley travel to the United States to see Vicky, Simon and the twins. Ben is victimised by irate farmers when he announces that the whole milk supply of the Valley will have to be dumped.

The wife of a roadhouse owner has a late pregnancy with a fifty-fifty chance that the child will be malformed. Kenny Mitchell is employed at the roadhouse behind the counter, with his special being a hamburger with the lot.

There's a burglar on the loose in Wandin Valley. Esme is among the victims, and Sally is finding it a difficult case to solve. Laura breaks down and tells her mother why she is so upset about the Major's proposal.

Wandin Valley battens down the hatches and prepares for Big Jules's annual visit. Sally, sick of being treated as a secretary instead of a policewoman, files an official complaint against Frank.

Shirley convinces Jo to audition for a television commercial. Jo prepares to make her television debut while Frank acts the nervous "stage mother".

When the school principal decides to bring some "good old-fashioned discipline" back to Burrigan High, the students rebel and Jo organises a protest. Jo is elected president of the new student council, and Alex learns that Andrew has a drug problem.

Jo is booked to do a TV commercial for fresh chickens but her excitement turns to horror when she sees the conditions at the farm. There is an outbreak of Asian flu in the Valley and it looks as if many small poultry farmers are going to lose everything.

Peter takes pity on a teenage runaway and lets him stay at Camelot, much to Ben and Donna's dismay. Peter is devastated when he realises that Stewart was just stringing him along.

Esme is bitten by the gambling bug when Cookie installs a new poker machine in the club. Peter's life hangs in the balance when he suffers a severe allergic reaction.

Peter and Alex organise a romantic weekend away in Sydney but it does not go according to plan. Donna is shattered when she learns that Matt has bone cancer.

Donna finds her nursing skills challenged and ends up resigning after a battle with a middle-age valium addict. When Peter catches Penny and George in Alex's house, they decide to get back at him with a 'magic' potion.

Jo and Ben visit a rundown farm and suspect something is amiss. Hilda Arrowsmith arrives at Wandin Valley Hospital – she's the new acting matron!

Adam Campbell takes a fancy to Jo and invites her to a party at his house. After they get into an accident, leaving Jo in a coma with possible brain damage, Frank is determined to find out who is to blame.

Alex suspects a case of child abuse. Esme is jealous when Cookie shows interest in the matron. Jo checks out of hospital after her recovery and helps reunite a family.

Peter tries to find the right moment to pop the question to Alex, but she's too busy battling a case of hay fever. Terence blows his stack when a patient's life is threatened due to Matron Arrowsmith's scheming.

The Wandin Valley residents band together to prevent the closure of the hospital. Matron Sloan arrives back in Wandin Valley with the hope of saving the hospital.

Jo's school friend Fiona is fed up of having to look after her little brother Jimmy. Fiona runs to Jo and the Gilroys for comfort when her mother turns on her and blames her for Jimmy's death.