When Home And Away first arrived on Channel Seven in 1988 it followed the Fletcher family who arrived in Summer Bay from the city.
Tom, his wife Pippa and their five foster children, Frank Morgan, Carly Morris, Steven Matheson, Lynn Davenport and Sally Fletcher.
After buying the Caravan Park, they soon made friends with local shopkeepers Alf Stewart and Ailsa, as well a retired carnival workers Neville and Floss McPhee.
The Australian soap is the second longest-running series in Australia, behind Neighbours which began in 1985.
Home And Away is the most awarded program at the Logie Awards, with the soap being inducted into the Logie Hall Of Fame in 2015.
While some of the original characters and their co-stars have remained on the show for decades it catapulted many of the show’s alumni to fame and successful media careers.
As some left to pursue fame in Hollywood, others have turned their back on acting forever. Here, MailOnline takes a look at what everyone is doing now.
Roger Oakley as Tom Fletcher
Roger played the foster father Tom Fletcher from the soap’s pilot episode in 1988
The New Zealand-born actor has now notched up almost 50 years in showbiz, with his last on-screen appearance being for the show Winners And Losers in 2013
Roger played the foster father Tom Fletcher from the soap’s pilot episode in 1988.
He previously told New Idea that one of his fondest memories on the show was spent with the young Kate Ritchie: ‘There was always a fruit bowl brimming with apples and bananas and adorable Katie and I would pass the time pretending the bananas were telephones and have amazing conversations.’
Tom was killed off the series in 1990 after losing control of his car suffering a heart attack at the wheel.
He was revived in 2008 as a ghost, appearing in a scene where foster daughter Sally (Kate Ritchie) experienced a near-death experience.
The New Zealand-born actor has now notched up almost 50 years in showbiz, with his last on-screen appearance being for the show Winners And Losers in 2013.
Vanessa Downing as Pippa Fletcher
Vanessa played the kind-hearted foster mother Pippa, who took many children under her wing in her short two-year stint on the show
She graduated as a solicitor in 2006 and now happily balances a law career with her acting roles
Vanessa played the kind-hearted foster mother Pippa, who took many children under her wing in her short two-year stint on the show.
When her on-screen husband was killed off, Vanessa left soon after to pursue her love of the theater and a career in law.
She graduated as a solicitor in 2006 and now happily balances a law career with her acting roles.
Pippa has returned to Summer Bay for milestone moments over the years, including in 2002 for Home And Away’s anniversary and foster daughter Sally’s (Kate Ritchie) wedding to Flynn Saunders in 2003.
Kate Ritchie as Sally Fletcher
Her 20-year stint as Home and Away’s Sally Fletcher carried Kate Ritchie from 1988 to 2008, before a brief return after five years in 2013
Since her iconic role, Kate has gone to appear on Underbelly – which she starred in alongside Dieter – and forge a successful career in radio on Nova 96.9 (pictured in August 2024)
Her 20-year stint as Home and Away’s Sally Fletcher carried Kate Ritchie from 1988 to 2008, before a brief return after five years in 2013.
Since her iconic role, Kate has gone to appear on Underbelly – which she starred in alongside Dieter – and forge a successful career in radio on Nova 96.9.
She has one daughter, Mae, who she shares with her estranged husband, retired NRL player Stuart Webb.
Last month, the Nova radio star, 46, hinted that her character Sally, could be making a surprise return.
She revealed producers have already been in touch with her multiple times trying to line her up for a return, but teased that she has not closed the door on the soap.
‘[Producers] have stopped calling, but they have told me the door is always open,’ she told the Herald Sun.
‘The idea of being back there and seeing everyone and working with all those actors again is not something I would not want to do, it is just whether it makes sense anymore.’
Kate added that she was unsure whether her character would fit in with the newer residents of Summer Bay or if she would still connect with viewers.
‘All of the new viewers they have, half of them would not know who Sally is. I have my work cut out for me and parenthood and life generally, let alone throwing another job,’ she added.
