List of McLeod's Daughters characters
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This is a list of characters from the Australian drama series McLeod's Daughters.
Main characters
Character | Actor | Occupation | Duration | Episodes |
Claire Louise McLeod | Lisa Chappell | Drover's Run Part Owner | August 2001 - October 2003 | 001 - 073 |
Claire is the oldest child of John 'Jack' M. McLeod (Anthony Hayes; Troy Gray). She was born on Drover's Run, in 1973, to Jack and his first wife, Prudence 'Prue' McLeod (Sarah Enright). Prue died while giving birth to a stillborn son, Adam John McLeod, in 1975. Jack would later marry Ruth Silverman, who gave birth to Tess Silverman McLeod. When their marriage ended, Ruth took Tess to live in Melbourne, leaving Jack to raise Claire alone. Claire and Tess would not see each other again until after their father died, almost twenty years later. Claire spent her whole life on Drover's Run; she left school at age 15 to help her dad run the farm. She attempts to start a horse breeding program on Drover's with Peter Johnson (Rodger Corser), the local representative of Australian Bloodlines. They begin a romantic relationship while working together, which ends when Claire finds out that Peter is married and has a family in Queensland. They reunite briefly, which results in Claire getting pregnant. She gives birth to a daughter, Charlotte Prudence McLeod (Sarah and Alisha Hart; Brooke, Kaitlyn and Thalia Stacy-Clark; Dana Miltins), in a shed on Drover's Run. Before Claire decides on a name, the baby is affectionately called 'BOM', for Baby of McLeod. Not long after the baby was born, Claire and Alex Ryan begin a relationship, with Alex planning to propose to her during a party. Claire, Tess, and baby Charlotte are returning from town with party supplies when their ute hits a pothole and Claire loses control of the vehicle, and coming to a stop with its front wheels dangling over the edge of a cliff. Tess is able to get out and get Charlotte to safety, but cannot get Claire's door open before the ute starts to slide. It goes over the cliff and into the canyon, killing Claire. | ||||
Teresa 'Tess' Charlotte Silverman McLeod-Ryan | Bridie Carter | Drover's Run Part Owner | August 2001 - May 2006 | 001 - 123, 135 - 146 |
Tess is the third child and second daughter of Jack McLeod. She was born on Drover's Run in 1976 to Jack and his second wife, Ruth Silverman. Tess left Drover's for Melbourne with her mother when she was five years old, after her parents' marriage ended. Tess never saw her father again, and only returns to Drover's after his death nearly twenty years later. Tess and Claire initially clash over the future of Drover's Run. Tess considers selling her share and remaining in the city, but later decides to stay on to help run the farm. She has not had a true home since her mother died from cancer, and she wants to stay and rekindle her relationship with her sister. In season one, Tess has a brief romantic relationship with Alex Ryan, which ends amicably. She later discovers she has feelings for Alex's younger brother, Nick, though their initial attempts at a relationship fail due to Tess's fear of commitment combined with Nick's haste to commit as soon as possible. After that she becomes involved with the new local veterinarian Dave Brewer, leading to an engagement. They call off the engagement when Dave realizes he has not fully mourned the loss of his late wife Leanne, when he is obviously not capable of dealing with the potential cancer scare Tess is having, making this experience even harder for Tess than it already is. After Claire dies in a car accident returning home from buying party supplies with Tess and Charlotte, Tess becomes the sole owner of Drover's Run. She hires Stevie Hall, an old rodeo friend of Claire and Alex, as overseer to help her manage the property. When Peter Johnson files for custody of Charlotte, his daughter with Claire, Tess initially fights it but ultimately relents and lets Peter and his wife have full custody. Peter allows Charlotte to visit her aunt at Drover's, including her godfather Alex at Killarney, often. Tess and Nick eventually rekindle their relationship and get married. Their marital bliss ends abruptly when they have to deal with a heavily pregnant Sally Clements (Kathryn Hartman), Nick's former girlfriend en physical therapist. They go through quite some ups and downs with the birth of Nick's first born son out of wedlock, however ultimately they make it. Not long after, Nick takes a job running a breeding program on a large ranch in Argentina, and they leave Drover's. Tess returns after a year, announcing that she's pregnant. While expecting Nick to follow her home shortly, Tess learns that his plane has gone missing and he is assumed dead. Tess begins to mourn him, but Nick is eventually found alive and returns to Drover's Run. They decide to return to Argentina for another three years, and Tess is not seen on the show again, though she and Nick are referenced by other characters periodically. Tess gives birth to a daughter named Claire. | ||||
Jodi Margaret Fountain McLeod-Bosnich | Rachael Carpani | Drover's Run Part Owner | August 2001 - April 2007, January 2009 | 001 - 178, 224 |
Jodi is the youngest child of Jack McLeod. She was born on Drover's Run in 1982 to Jack and Meg Fountain. Jack and Meg had a brief affair and were not married; their relationship and Jodi's paternity were kept secret for many years. It was assumed that Meg's first husband Kevin Fountain (Richard Healy), was Jodi's father. While Meg was married to Kevin, he left and returned several times. Meg became the housekeeper at Drover's Run and Jack paid for Jodi to attend boarding school. After completing her finals, Jodi moves back to Drover's whilst awaiting the results of her exams. After receiving weak test results she begins working alongside the other women on the farm. Two years after returning to Drover's, Jodi marries Alberto Borelli (Ben Mortley), but decides immediately after the wedding that she is too young for marriage and children. Alberto returns to Italy and Jodi resumes her work on Drover's. When Meg is offered a job in Melbourne, Jodi initially decides to go with her, but changes her mind at the last minute and decides to stay on the farm. She has a relationship with mechanic Luke Morgan (Dean O'Gorman), which is fun, exciting, and serious, however it abruptly ends when Luke is sent to jail. She later has a relationship with Rob Shelton, the overseer of Killarney. During this time she discovered her true parentage, after receiving a trust fund from Jack McLeod on her birthday, which led to friction with Meg. When Rob's father died without him knowing, Rob reveals to Jodi that he is in the Witness Protection Program and living under an alias; a hitman soon finds him and he is forced to leave the area, heavily wounded, however alive due to Jodi. He later returns as Matt Bosnich, when it is presumed safe for him, and they rekindle their relationship. Another hitman still finds him, and it appears that Jodi and Matt die in an explosion. Later, mostly due to Kate's interference and tenacity, the Drover's girls and Killarney boys are told that they faked their deaths so that Matt could be free of his pursuers, and after saying goodbye to her friends and family on Drover's, Jodi leaves with him. Jodi is not seen again until the series finale with news that they are married and that she is pregnant. They explain that the criminals who had been after them are in jail, and they can safely return to Drover's to have and raise their baby. | ||||
Rebecca 'Becky' Howard | Jessica Napier | Drover's Run Lead Station Hand | August 2001 - October 2003 | 001 - 70 |
Becky is a young local who starts out working for the Gungellan Pub & Hotel. After her boss, Brian (John Sheerin), rapes her, Claire offers to put her up on Drover's and give her work. Although Becky is nearly illiterate, she hides this well, and is soon promoted to lead station hand, being a hard worker who is reliable. She cautiously begins a relationship with Brett 'Brick' Buchanon (Fletcher Humphrys), a station hand at Killarney. Brett eventually leaves to help his ailing uncle in Queensland. When Brett does not return on the expected bus, and Becky doesn't see nor hears from him anymore, she searches for him for months. A dream leads her to a bridge where she finds his body. Becky mourns Brick's death while growing closer to Jake (Charlie Clausen), another Killarney station hand. They break up and Jake leaves, but he later returns for a young farmer's competition and attempts to win her back. Becky decides to leave with Jake to live with him on his new property and to take advantage of a scholarship at an agricultural college. Becky doesn't return to Drover's for the remainder of the series. | ||||
Alexander 'Alex' Marion Ryan | Aaron Jeffery | Killarney Part Owner | August 2001 - December 2008 | 001 - 208 |
Alex is the older son of Harry (Marshall Napier) and Liz Ryan (Catherine Wilkin), the rich owners of Killarney, the large property adjacent to Drover's Run. He is a childhood friend of Claire McLeod's. Shortly after Tess arrives at Drover's, he begins dating her, but they soon break up and decide to be just friends.
After Claire gives birth to Charlotte, she and Alex develop romantic feelings for each other. Alex plans to propose to Claire, but she dies before he gets the chance. In season 3, Alex discovers that Harry Ryan is not his biological father. His mother, Liz, had a brief relationship with married Bryce Redstaff (John Stanton) that resulted in pregnancy, but soon she married Harry Ryan and allowed him to believe that the baby was his. Alex's true paternity leads to the breakup of Harry and Liz's marriage, with Liz leaving Killarney. Alex's bad relationship with his father Harry leads him to leave for the city where he meets Fiona Webb (Michelle Langstone) and they get engaged within days. He marries Fiona, a city girl from a wealthy family. Their marriage soon ends badly, with Fiona believing that Alex is in love with Stevie. Though they don't immediately begin a relationship, Alex and Stevie eventually marry. After the wedding and honeymoon, Alex is only seen by videophone from Argentina until the last episode of season 7, when he returns to Killarney to surprise Stevie and spend Christmas together. Alex dies early in season 8, after being crushed by a large tree branch. Stevie gives birth shortly after, and names the baby Alexander 'Xander' Hall Ryan (Zayne and Eddison How; Ashton and Tate Hutchings; Josh Helman). | ||||
Nicholas 'Nick' Gary Ryan | Myles Pollard | Killarney Part Owner | August 2001 - May 2006 | 001 - 125, 145 - 146 |
Nick is the younger son of Harry and Liz Ryan. Due to a rodeo accident in his teens that left him with scars and a limp, Nick works mostly on the business operations at Killarney, since he cannot ride horses anymore. When he feels betrayed by his father, Harry Ryan, he buys the property Wilgul and runs it mostly on his own. Against all diagnoses and medical advice, he feels he is ready to ride horses again, and succeeds.
He and Tess have an on-off relationship throughout their time on the series, eventually culminating in marriage. Nick's ambitions take Tess and Nick to Argentina, where he is involved in running a massive cattle project. Nick was declared dead after the plane thought to be carrying him back to Australia crashed in South America, but it was later revealed that he had been mugged before boarding the plane, and had spent months unconscious in a hospital. After returning to Drover's, he and Tess decide to return to Argentina, and like Tess, he is not seen on the series again. Nick has a daughter with Tess, named Claire. Earlier he also had a son, Harrison Nicholas Ryan Clements (Alicia and Connor Randall), with Sally Clements, his former girlfriend and physical therapist. | ||||
Margaret 'Meg' Rivers Fountain-Dodge | Sonia Todd | Drover's Run Housekeeper | August 2001 - April 2007 | 001 - 88, 109 - 134, 143 - 149, 177 - 178, 224 |
Meg is the longtime housekeeper on Drover's Run and the mother of Jodi Fountain-McLeod. Meg acts as a mother figure to the women of Drover's, though she has occasional clashes with some of the employees, notably Becky. Meg had an affair with Jack McLeod many years ago, resulting in her getting pregnant with Jodi. She keeps the affair secret from her husband Kevin Fountain, who left her at that time, came back, and left her again after Jodi was born. Her current boyfriend Terry Dodge (John Jarratt) seems to have suspected that Meg had an affair with Jack for a while. Separately Stevie has also been suspecting Meg along the same lines, and with regard to Jodi's parentage. When Jodi receives a trust fund from Jack at her birthday, she becomes suspicious and has a paternity test done, revealing that Jack is in fact her biological father. Around this time, Meg has a novel: 'The Gift', published that is a thinly-veiled account of her and Jodi's life on Drover's. The novel and the revelation of Jodi's true paternity causes a rift between Meg and Jodi. Meg leaves suddenly to promote her book away from Gungellan, returning briefly to reconcile with her daughter and to marry Terry Dodge. The newlyweds then set off to explore Australia. She returns for Jodi's funeral and following that, is not seen again until the final episode, when she returns to Drover's with a pregnant Jodi. | ||||
David 'Dave' Enoch Brewer | Brett Tucker | Local Veterinarian | February 2003 - November 2006 | 45 - 170 |
Dave is a country veterinarian who tends to the animals on Drover's Run and other farms in the area. He is briefly engaged to Tess, though they break off the engagement when Dave realizes that he has not properly mourned his late wife Leanne. He leaves in an effort to work out his feelings, but when he returns after nearly a year, Tess does not take him back as she and Nick are in the process of getting together. Dave moves into Wilgul with Alex and becomes a staple part of the social group. He later has a relationship with Tess's cousin, Regan McLeod, which ends when Regan leaves Drover's to pursue another geological job.
His friendship with Kate ultimately develops into a romance, and the two leave for Africa, where Dave is going to run a veterinarian clinic. Kate later returns to Drover's after Jodi's death, but Dave is not seen in the series again. | ||||
Stephanie 'Stevie' Jane Hall-Ryan | Simmone Jade Mackinnon | Drover's Run Part Owner | October 2003 - January 2009 | 71 - 224 |
Stevie is an old friend of Claire's, and Alex, and first appears in the series shortly before Claire's death. Though she initially clashes with Tess, they grow close and Tess asks Stevie to stay on Drover's as overseer and eventually as part-owner. She has a daughter, Rose (Basia A'Hern), who lives with Stevie's sister Michelle (Tara Morice) and believes that Stevie is her aunt. Much of Stevie's arc on the show revolves around her decision to tell Rose the truth about her parentage. She eventually does so, leading to a brief falling-out with her daughter. Rose later forgives Stevie and visits her on Drover's several times. After Tess and Nick leave for Argentina, Stevie becomes the primary person in charge at Drover's until Jodi, and later the McLeod cousins, receive their shares, and run the Drover's property along with her. She goes on to marry Alex Ryan, and discovers, that she is pregnant while Alex is in Argentina working with Nick. Alex returns to Killarney before Stevie is due to give birth, and they spend Christmas together; he dies from being crushed by a heavy tree branch. Stevie has the baby boy very shortly after, and after calling him 'Wombat' for some time, she names him Alexander 'Xander' Hall Ryan. She continues on as part-owner of both Drover's and Killarney, appearing until the series finale. | ||||
Kate Maria Due Manfredi | Michala Banas | Drover's Run Farm Hand | May 2004 - December 2008 | 88 - 170, 179 - 206 |
Kate is a former classmate of Jodi's. She first appears in the series when Jodi decides to go to Melbourne with Meg, leaving a job vacancy. Though Jodi changes her mind at the last minute and stays on the farm, Kate keeps her new position, and soon they are back being best friends like they used to be in school. Kate is organized and goal-oriented, often referring to her "5-year plan". She brings quite the organization and knowledge to Drover's, but occasionally she has the other farmhands rolling their eyes. Kate has relationships with local boy Craig (Luke Ford), Dave Brewer's younger brother Patrick, and Mitch Wahlberg (Callan Mulvey), an old army friend from Riley, who turns out to have gone AWOL, but she maintains her feelings for Dave until they eventually get together just when Dave leaves for Africa. Kate's ambitions lead her to winning the Young Farmer's Award on the evening Dave tells her about his decision to leave. Kate joins him on his African adventure. She returns when Jodi is thought to be dead. Devastated by Jodi's death her prodding ultimately causes Meg and the police to reveal that Jodi and Matt have joined the witness protection programme and are using the accident as the perfect cover. She decides to stay at Drover's for a while where she feels useful and good at what she does. Her anxiety about being out of place in Africa causes her to put off returning, but she later goes back to Africa and Dave after some sage advice from Moira (Doris Younane). Kate returns to Drover's for Stevie's wedding, having split from Dave. She is in the beginning stages of a relationship with Riley when he is killed in a car accident at Christmas. Though his body is never found, Riley is presumed dead and Kate leaves to run a farm for at-risk youth. | ||||
Regan McLeod | Zoe Naylor | Drover's Run Part Owner | May 2005 - January 2009 | 119 - 123, 149 - 184, 209 - 210, 223 - 224 |
Regan is the second daughter of Hugh McLeod (Josef Ber; Stewart Armstrong), Jack McLeod's younger brother who was first engaged to Prudence. Regan arrives at Drover's under suspicious circumstances, later revealing that she has come to conduct tests and surveys to determine if Drover's can be mined for gold. She begins digging, which is legal, getting into several confrontations with Tess, and the other Drover's women. After she is bitten by a venomous snake, Tess helps save her life and Regan decides to abandon her plans to mine Drover's, making peace with her cousin. Regan gets romantically involved with Dave Brewer, who helped her over her fear of animals, but the relationship ends when Regan leaves.
She appears again in season 6, returning to Drover's looking for Tess, who is in Argentina at the time. She reveals that an accident at a mine she was supervising caused the death of two men. Though not criminally responsible, she feels enormous guilt over the incident. She stays at Drover's for a while and redeems herself with the girls of Drover's when she pitches in with the farm work. Shortly after she inherits a share of Drover's through Jodi's faked death, she helps save Drover's from a toxic waste dump planned for Drover's. During this she temporarily resumes an adulterous relationship with a former colleague who is there on behalf of the government to assess Drover's compatibility for the toxic dump. His lying and a pregnancy scare brings about the quick end of the affair and after saving Drover's from the dump, she moves on. In the last few episodes she comes back to Drover's to help her sisters and Stevie run the farm, and to stay on. | ||||
Rob Shelton / Matt Bosnich | Jonny Pasvolsky | Killarney Overseer | August 2005 - May 2006, November 2006 - April 2007 | 122 - 147, 170 - 178 |
Rob is the new overseer for Killarney who seems highly capable as well as being a loner. His choice for loneliness, while hiding quite a few secrets, becomes gradually understandable. His first meeting with Jodi seems rather innocent, however their contact gets more and more awkward after that. At first Jodi comes to the conclusion that Rob must be a homosexual, since he is highly organized in comparison to the men she knows, and he shows no interest at all in her nor in any other girl. When she eventually finds out Rob is straight, she is highly embarrassed, still she needs to satisfy her nosiness, which leads to more irritation and awkwardness between them. Through Jodi's persistence, she, as well as the viewer, discovers Rob is a good hearted and nice guy, although on the run, and in some heavy jeopardy, which explains his secretive behaviour. Their relationship develops into a solid friendship based on mutual understanding. When Rob's father has died without him knowing, Rob reveals to Jodi that he is in the witness protection programme and living under an alias; a hitman finds him and after barely surviving the attack with Jodi's aid, he is forced to leave to take on a completely new identity elsewhere.
He later returns as Matt Bosnich, his real name, when it is presumed safe for him, and they rekindle their relationship. Still another hitman finds him, and it appears that Jodi and Matt die in an explosion. Later, mostly due to Kate's interference and tenacity, the Drover's girls and Killarney boys are told that they used the explosion to fake their deaths so that Matt could be free of his pursuers. After saying goodbye to her friends and family on Drover's, Jodi leaves with him. Matt is not seen again in the series, although Jodi comes back in the series finale with news that they are married and she is pregnant with his baby. The criminals who had been after them are in jail, and they can safely return to Drover's to have and raise their baby. | ||||
Patrick Michael Brewer | Luke Jacobz | Killarney Farm Hand | October 2005 - January 2009 | 131, 147 - 224 |
Patrick is the younger brother of Dave Brewer. He makes his first appearance in the series by parachuting onto Drover's. Patrick is an adventurous world traveller. He has a short relationship with Kate early on, but when he stops taking his medication for bipolar disorder, he has a manic episode, which initially frightens Kate off. After Dave finally tells him the truth about their father's death, their relationship strengthens, and he leaves Gungellan to stay with his mother, and work on getting better at handling his bipolar disorder. After a while he returns to Gungellan and rekindles the relationship with Kate. This time it seems to go well, yet it still ends the night of the Young Farmer of the Year Award Ceremony, when he realizes that he and Kate are too different, and Kate and Dave are in love with each other. He works at Killarney as a farm hand and for the truck stop, under Moira Doyle, as a mechanic. Later in the series, he is employed at Killarney again, and begins a relationship with Tayler Geddes. They remain a couple until the series finale with plans to join Dave in Africa. | ||||
Riley Ward | Dustin Clare | Killarney Overseer | July 2006 - October 2007 | 155 - 203 |
Riley is a farrier and horse gentler who left the army, and first appears in season 6, when Stevie discovers him squatting on Drover's. After some initial clashes with the people from Drover's and Killarney, Riley and Stevie start a programme to capture and train brumbies. Riley also becomes the overseer of Killarney.
Riley vies for Jodi's affections, and although she becomes interested, also trying to forget Rob, in the end she chooses to be with Matt after he returns. After Jodi and Matt have left, he gradually develops feelings for Kate, and they are in the early stages of a relationship when he is involved in a car accident at Christmas in the season 7 finale. His body is never found, but he is presumed dead and does not appear on the series again. | ||||
Tayler Jane Geddes | Gillian Alexy | Drover's Run Farm Hand | November 2006 - January 2009 | 170 - 224 |
Tayler first appears at the end of season 6, when she comes to Drover's looking to get revenge on Regan. Regan was supervising a mine when an accident killed two men, one of which was Tayler's father. Regan and the other women, with some aid by Patrick, convince Tayler to stay on at Drover's as a farm hand. Although she is not certain about this decision and how welcome she truly is at Drover's, she has nowhere else to go, and indeed stays on. Gradually she becomes a true Drover's girl, and eventually decides to study to become a veterinarian. Tayler and Patrick at first form a solid friendship, although Patrick is in love with her, and wants more. After Tayler is over her infatuation with Riley, she sees Patrick differently, and they start a relationship that lasts until the end of the series, with plans to join Dave in Africa. | ||||
Marcus Turner | Matt Passmore | Killarney Part Owner | February 2007 - January 2009 | 172 - 224 |
Marcus first arrives at Killarney in the beginning of season 7, working for Bryce Redstaff to go over the books and look for ways to increase profit, recovering Bryce's investment. Bryce has more than one agenda in this, and since Bryce does not want to tell Alex himself, he leaves Marcus no other choice than to later reveal to Alex that he is also Bryce's son and therefore his (younger) brother. Though he and Alex initially clash, they later grow close, while Marcus does his best to fit in, and to develop into a good farmer.
After Alex dies, Marcus decides to stay on as part-owner of Killarney. He begins a relationship with Ingrid Marr, the new country veterinarian. Their relationship ends when Ingrid's estranged husband shows up and begins to harass and threaten her. She runs away to hide from him, and to protect Marcus. Marcus is not fully aware of Ingrid's motivation, and becomes involved with Grace McLeod. He is however not fully committed to Grace. When Ingrid returns, Grace ends their relationship and urges Ingrid and Marcus to rekindle their romance, since they never stopped loving each other. | ||||
Grace Kingston McLeod | Abi Tucker | Drover's Run Part Owner | April 2007 - January 2009 | 179 - 224 |
Grace is the eldest of Hugh McLeod's daughters, sister to Regan and Jaz, cousin to Jodi, Tess and Claire. She is a Campdrafting champion under the name Grace Kingston (her mother's maiden name) and an old friend of Stevie Hall. She reluctantly joins Drover's after receiving her share in Jodi's 'will'. Grace is a loose cannon, acting before thinking, and stuffs up a few times in her initial adjustment to being at Drover's. Her relationship with Regan is complicated and they are often at odds.
Grace arrived in April 2007 at a campdrafting demonstration. Grace's long-time (friendly) rival Stevie Hall was competing. When Stevie introduces Grace to Regan, the tun out to be estranged sisters, which shocked Stevie. Old tensions surface when Grace takes a highly valuable horse for a joy ride, and Regan stops the fun and a story emerges of an incident at school where Grace accuses Regan to have failed to stand up for Grace, and Grace was expelled. Later Regan offers Grace her part share in Drover's Run inherited from Jodi Fountain-McLeod, but Grace turns it down saying: "Dad" said never to go there, because it changes your life, Grace then leaves. Grace decides that she wants to be a silent partner on Drover's Run, and although Regan is a little disappointed, it is a good start to the reconciliation process. Regan hopes they won't leave it too long before catching up again after years apart. Grace hopes for the same ... It may be a whole new beginning for the pair. After Regan leaves to continue her career in geology, Grace becomes the main full-time co-owner and overseer with Stevie. Grace has to battle obstacles to find her home at Drover's, which includes proving herself to Stevie and Kate. In the episode "Grace Under Fire", she finds an adversary and love interest in neighbouring farmer Heath Barrett who purchased Kinsella's after Sandra Kinsella-Ryan (Inge Hornstra) left. After thinking she put a curse on Drover's by stopping a sheep sale at the last second, she put them back in the sale. Heath bought the sheep at an obvious markup from the previous sale showing sympathy for Drover's and a possible crush on Grace. Grace called him out on the sympathy and favouritism at the sale. She becomes engaged to Heath, but ends the engagement when she finds out Heath is cheating on her. She eventually becomes briefly involved with Marcus Turner, for whom she has long had unrequited feelings. Their relationship ends in the series finale when Ingrid returns to town, and Grace realizes that Marcus is still in love with her. In season 8, her other sister Jaz (Edwina Ritchard) shows up, hoping to renew her relationships with her sisters. Grace however thinks she is hiding something and doesn't believe her. It takes some time before they find their way back to being actual sisters again. | ||||
Jasmine 'Jaz' McLeod | Anna Torv & Edwina Ritchard | Drover's Run Part Owner | November 2004, December 2008 - January 2009 | 103 - 104, 210 - 224 |
Jaz is the youngest of Hugh McLeod's daughters. She is the first McLeod cousin to appear in the series, showing up near the end of season 4 (played by Anna Torv) for two episodes. She comes to Drover's to heal from losing her fiancé in a show jumping accident, and to spread her father's ashes on Drover's, a property she thought solely existed in stories her father used to tell.
She has a brief flirtation with Alex, who helps her overcome her trauma which lead her to stop her career in show jumping. Jaz as well as Alex thought that she would stay at Drover's, however, her healing process reminds her of all she loved about being a professional show jumper, so she does leave to restart her career as a show jumper, which leaves Alex heart broken. She appears again in the last season (played by Edwina Ritchard) and appears until the series finale. After an awkward start as a farm hand, needing quite some effort to shake off her past career, she comes to love Drover's, and being back together with her sisters. She eventually starts a relationship with Ben Hall, Stevie's cousin at the end of the series. | ||||
Ben Hall | John Schwartz | Killarney Overseer | December 2008 - January 2009 | 210 - 224 |
Ben is Stevie's cousin, and first appears in season 8 on the same bus into Gungellan as Jaz, showing up to support Stevie after Alex's death. He finds work at Killarney, where he regularly clashes with Marcus, however he seems knowledgeable enough as well. He becomes involved with Jaz McLeod in the last episodes of the series, when finally ending his long time relationship with his childhood sweetheart Monique Black (Alexandra Davies). | ||||
Ingrid Marr | Rachael Coopes | Local Veterinarian | October 2007 - January 2009 | 200 - 224 |
Ingrid is a country veterinarian who first appears at the end of season 7. Ingrid gets along well with the local farmers, but seems to have a mysterious past. She later reveals that she is on the run from her abusive husband, Paul (Daniel Whyte). Ingrid and Marcus fall in love, but when Paul shows up at Drover's and begins stalking and threatening her, she fears for her safety as well as Marcus's, and she leaves. She reappears in the series finale, after she has finally found out that Paul is apprehended, rekindling her romance with Marcus with a little help from Grace. |
Recurring cast
Actor | Role | Status | Episodes |
---|---|---|---|
Marshall Napier | Harry J. Ryan / Karl Weatherdon | 2001–2006 | Episodes 1 - 162 |
John Jarratt | Terry Dodge | 2001–2006 | Episodes 1 - 148 |
Catherine Wilkin | Elizabeth 'Liz' M. Ryan | 2001–2003, 2004, 2006 | Episodes 1 - 53, 100, 154 |
Fletcher Humphrys | Brett "Brick" Buchanon | 2001–2003 | Episodes 1 - 47 |
Ben Mortley | Alberto Borelli | 2001–2003 | Episodes 19 - 50 |
Rodger Corser | Peter Johnson | 2001–2004 | Episodes 15 - 44, 62, 83 - 84 |
Kathryn Hartman | Sally Clemments | 2002–2005 | Episodes 43 - 54, 105 - 114, 136 |
Charlie Clausen | Jake Harrison | 2002–2003 | 35 - 70 |
Inge Hornstra | Sandra Kinsella-Ryan | 2002–2006 | Episodes 42, 57 - 100, 110 - 162 |
Doris Younane | Moira Doyle | 2002-2009 | 43, 60, 125 - 128, 133, 134, 139 - 224 |
Diarmid Heidenrich | Toby Frye | 2003 | Episodes 63 - 64, 70, 73 |
Alisha and Sarah Hart and Brooke, Kaitlyn & Tahlia Stacey-Clark | Charlotte McLeod | 2003-2009 | Episodes 75 - 146, 224 |
Craig McLachlan | Kane Morgan | 2004 | Episodes 89 - 96, 105 - 106 |
Basia A'Hern | Rose Hall-Smith | 2004–2009 | Episodes 90, 129 - 130, 163 - 166, 185 - 186, 190 - 192, 224 |
Dean O'Gorman | Luke Morgan | 2004–2005 | Episodes 93 - 118 |
Peter Hardy | Phill Rakich | 2006–2009 | Episodes 143, 157, 159, 163, 166, 169, 180-184, 186-189, 191-199, 202-211, 213-220, 222, 224 |
Michelle Langstone | Fiona Webb-Ryan | 2006 | Episodes 139 - 170 |
Daniel Feuerriegel | Leo Coombes | 2006 | Episodes 141, 143, 160, 164, 165 |
Sam Healy | Ashleigh Redstaff | 2007 | Episodes 186 - 199 |
Engagements and marriages
- Claire McLeod and Peter Johnson were engaged, but Claire ended the relationship when she found out Peter was already married and had children.
- After being best mates for about 15 years (and shortly after the birth of Charlotte McLeod) Claire McLeod and Alex Ryan were in a relationship. Claire died the day Alex intended to propose to her, after a previous failed attempt (the ring was lost during Alex's move to Drover's Run).
- Alex Ryan was going to propose to Claire McLeod the day that Claire had died in the crash; Claire was buried with the engagement ring that Alex had bought her.
- Jodi Fountain and Alberto Borelli had a wedding ceremony, but Jodi called off the marriage before the final paperwork was signed.
- Tess McLeod and Dave Brewer were engaged, but broke up when they realized that Dave was still grieving for his late wife.
- Harry Ryan and Sandra Kinsella were married after Harry divorced his first wife Liz.
- Nick Ryan and Tess McLeod married after several years of an on-off relationship. They remained married through the end of the series.
- Meg Fountain and Terry Dodge were married and set off for a trip around Australia.
- Alex Ryan and Fiona Webb married and quickly divorced.
- Jodi Fountain McLeod-Bosnich and Meg Fountain-Dodge return to Drover's Run in the final episode with news that Matt and Jodi are married and expecting a baby.
- Stevie Hall and Alex Ryan were married for a short time before Alex's death.
- Grace McLeod and Heath Barrett were engaged, but Grace called it off when she found out Heath was having an affair.
Births and pregnancies
- Claire gives birth to a girl named Charlotte Prudence McLeod, nicknamed 'BOM' (= Baby of McLeod). Peter Johnson is the father, but initially it is claimed that Alex is the father. Later Peter learns the truth through a letter of Claire, as she wants Charlotte to know her real father (and Peter's name on the birth certificate). Alex and Tess are Charlotte's godparents. Charlotte is named after Tess, whose 2nd name is Charlotte, and Claire's mother Prudence.
- Sandra Kinsella-Ryan returns from her honeymoon and announces that she's pregnant, but miscarries soon after.
- Nick's ex-girlfriend Sally returns unexpectedly to Drover's, eight months pregnant with his child. She soon gives birth to a son named Harrison Nicholas Ryan Clements.
- Tess gives birth in Argentina to a daughter named Claire Ruth McLeod Ryan.
- Stevie gives birth to a son named Alexander 'Xander' Hall Ryan soon after Alex dies. A short time before deciding on the name(s), Xander is called 'wombat'.
- Moira finds out she's pregnant with Phil Rakich's son in 2008, but miscarries early into the pregnancy.
- Jodi returns to Drover's Run in the series finale with news that she's pregnant.
Deaths
Actual Deaths
- Brett 'Brick' Buchanon died after falling off a bridge. He had been missing for some time and was eventually found by Becky.
- Claire McLeod died in a car accident when her ute went over a cliff. Tess and Charlotte were also in the accident, but managed to escape the vehicle before it crashed.
- Harry Ryan died from a heart attack. It was later revealed that Sandra had tampered with his heart medication.
- Riley Ward was involved in a car accident with Grace, Tayler, and Patrick. Their car was submerged in a river and Riley was presumed dead, though his body was never found.
- Alex Ryan died after a tree branch fell on him.
Throughout the series several main, recurring, or guest characters have lost their spouse: Beth Martin (Carmel Johnson), Alex Ryan, Dave Brewer, Jasmine McLeod (Anna Torv), Matt Bosnich/Rob Shelton, Stevie Hall-Ryan, Greg Hope (Matt Passmore), Daniel Lewis (Sandy Winton).
Fake Deaths
- Nick Ryan was thought to have died in a plane crash, but was later discovered alive in Argentina. He had been mugged and severely beaten, and had been unconscious in an Argentine hospital for several weeks.
- Matt Bosnich and Jodi Fountain were thought to have died in a car explosion. The next episode revealed that the car had blown up without them in it, but they were allowing people to think they were dead in order to evade the hitmen after them.
- Karl Weatherdon faked his death to resolutely leave his turbulent past behind, and become Harry J. Ryan. This was only discovered by Alex with help from Fiona, after Harry's real death.