Happy New Year: TV drama riding high in ’95

Happy New Year from the year 1995 — 30 years ago — and television drama was on a high with new and returning titles.

Blue Heelers, the hit new show of 1994, is back with cast regulars John Wood, Lisa McCune, William McInnes, Martin Sacks, Damien Walshe-Howling, Julie Nihill and Grant Bowler. An early episode sees Maggie (McCune) and Adam (Walshe-Howling) caught in a volatile and life-threatening situation in a nightclub. Detective Rose Egan (Dale Stevens), who appeared in the last episode of 1994, will continue at Mount Thomas police station going into 1995.
In Home And Away, the wedding plans of Shane (Dieter Brummer) and Angel (Melissa George) are thrown some hurdles. Shane’s visiting mother, Ros (Angela Punch-McGregor), is meddling too much and sent back to the city, and Angel suffers severe injuries from a car accident with Alf (Ray Meagher) at the wheel.
Georgie Parker heads the cast of Seven‘s new series Fire as firefighting recruit Morgan Cartwright, who finds herself tackling the sexist attitudes of her male colleagues at South East Fire Station. The series’ central plot focuses on the hunt for an arsonist who has a penchant for torching empty buildings. The investigation throws suspicion on the fire brigade itself and Morgan is pressured by the arson squad to be its mole at South East and report anything out of the ordinary. Fire also stars Peter Phelps, Max Phipps, Shane Feeney-Connor, Deborra-lee Furness, Andy Anderson, Wayne Pygram, Aaron Jeffery and Tayler Kane.

Heartbreak High returns to Ten for its second year but without its Heartbreak Kid (Alex Dimitriades). Ernie Dingo will be a prominent guest star in the returning series, and other actors to make guest appearances include Joy Smithers and Grant Dodwell. Kym Wilson is returning as teacher Sam Robinson, and joining the cast is Vince Poletti, who plays the school principal’s nephew, Matt Logan.

When Janus (ABC) returns for another series, Steve Hennessey (Leon Teague) has escaped major drug charges, but big brother Mal (Brett Swain) is up before the bench on murder charges — and an armed hold-up and confrontation with the Tactical Response Squad ends in a fatality for the Hennessey family. Returning for series two of Janus are Chris Haywood, Tracy Mann, Jeremy Kewley, Louise Siversen, Denis Moore, Pauline Terry-Beitz and Simon Westaway.

Law Of The Land (Nine) will feature a controversial episode focusing on the relationship between a journalist (played by Bradley Hume) and his former lover (played by Michael Pope). The town of Merringanee is rocked by the journalist’s allegations that a youth rehabilitation centre has been built with “dirty” money. Law Of The Land will again star Lisa Hensley, Wynn Roberts and Peter O’Brien. Guest stars include Terry Serio, Tottie Goldsmith and comedian Peter Rowsthorn in his first dramatic role.
Joining Police Rescue (ABC) in its new series are Frankie J Holden and Ada Nicodemou. A tragic bus crash and a siege in which the behaviour of the media is under the spotlight are major storylines in the new episodes. Returning cast for the new series includes Gary Sweet, Sonia Todd, Steve Bisley and Tammy MacIntosh.

In the series return of Banjo Paterson’s The Man From Snowy River (Nine), the Reverend Colin McGregor (Brett Climo) faces danger when his church is burnt to the ground as a result of his preaching on the wickedness of alcohol. The fire is a sign of disapproval by one of the local residents. Guest stars in the new series include David Gulpilil, Kym Wilson and Olivia Newton-John. Newton-John’s character, Joanna Walker, makes an impact in the high country after placing a newspaper advertisement looking for the father she hasn’t seen since she was a child. Matt McGregor’s (Andrew Clarke) support for Joanna is misinterpreted as a romantic interest.
Zoe Carides joins the cast of GP (ABC) as Dr Sonia Kapek. In new episodes of the series, Julie Winters (Denise Roberts) moves in as William’s (Michael Craig) new boarder after Martin Dempsey (Damian Rice) moves out to seek more independent living arrangements. Love is also in the air for William when his friendship with Eva (played by his real-life wife, Sue Walker) turns to romance. Guest stars during the year include Noel Hodda, Peter Sumner, Victoria Longley, Elaine Smith and Kym Wilson.

When Neighbours (Ten) returns, after being ditched at the altar by Mark (Bruce Samazan), Annalise (Kimberley Davies) finds support from Sam Kratz (Richard Grieve). There are still tensions when Mark re-affirms his decision to become a priest. Lou Carpenter’s (Tom Oliver) secret meetings are revealed not to be with another woman, but rather a daughter (played by Khym Lam) from a love affair that Lou had in Hong Kong many years ago. There is tension for Cody (Peta Brady) as she awaits her high school certificate results, and is hoping to score well enough to get into medical school. After the death of his wife, Julie (Julie Mullins), there is a hint of romance for Philip (Ian Rawlings), but this is not welcomed by daughter Hannah (Rebecca Ritters).