(92 – 130) (39 episodes)
Australian airdates – February 3 1997 – June 19 1997 – ABC.
UK airdates – December 10 1996 – October 14 1997 (including breaks for Christmas, Wimbledon and other special events) – BBC2.
1 (92):
First aired on Tuesday December 10, 1996 on BBC2 in the United Kingdom at 6.25pm. First aired in Australia on Monday February 3, 1997 on ABC at 6pm (first half) then Tuesday February 4, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Peter Kinloch
Directed by Andrew Prowse
Matt is jealous when Stassy starts working with Declan to compose music for one of her poems, and threatens Declan. Stassy decides she can’t cope with Matt’s jealousy and dumps him. Roberto tells Katerina that Con’s mobile phone needs to be returned to the phone company, and so her and Charlie dig up the time capsule to retrieve it, only to find it is missing. Dyson decides to leave Hartley to be with her son when he gets a job in Queensland.
(Guest stars Marc Gray as Gary. First episode to have its first Australian showing on ABC. Note – final episode for Diane Craig as June Dyson)
2 (93):
First aired on Tuesday December 17, 1996 on BBC2 in the United Kingdom at 6.25pm. First aired in Australia on Monday February 10, 1997 on ABC at 6pm (first half) then Tuesday February 11, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Suzanne Hawley
Directed by Andrew Prowse
Exams are looming, and Charlie is feeling the pressure when his computer breaks down. In a panic, Charlie resorts to caffeine pills to help him through revision, while Bolton, Stassy and Bazza scrape the money together to get hold of the upcoming history paper. Declan struggles to prepare for his HSC and look after his mother at the same time.
(Guest stars Richard Cass as Bazza, and Elaine Lee as Maria)
3 (94):
First aired on Tuesday January 7, 1997 on BBC2 in the United Kingdom at 6.25pm. First aired in Australia on Wednesday February 12, 1997 on ABC at 6pm (first half) then Thursday February 13, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Howard Griffiths
Directed by Richard Jasek
Con turns up out of the blue to visit the Bordinos. Despite being together with Charlie, Kat tries to win Con back, but he then introduces his new wife, Stephanie.
Ronnie investigates when Declan fails to turn up for his first exam. Declan says he has to look after his mother, but it turns out she has been hospitalised. Desperate to do well in the exams, Bolton steals Stassy’s lucky crystal.
(Guest stars Salvatore Coco as Con Bordino – who makes his final appearance in the role, and Annalise Braakensiek as Stephanie)
4 (95):
First aired on Tuesday January 21, 1997 on BBC2 in the United Kingdom at 6.25pm. First aired in Australia on Monday February 17, 1997 on ABC at 6pm (first half) then Tuesday February 18, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Alexa Wyatt
Directed by Richard Jasek
The exams are over, but the gang are told that the funding for their formal is being used on computers, leading to a dispute over how to celebrate. Stassy takes Kat and Charlie to her cousin Andre’s classy school formal, and unaware of Stassy’s relation to this mystery man, Matt turns up and attacks Andre. Charlie is jealous when Kat starts flirting with other guys at the formal. Ronnie hosts a party at her flat but only Declan and Melanie turn up. Bolton accepts a job as an events organiser in Canberra, following his successful beach party Bolton’s Big Beach Bash.
(Guest stars Chris Sadrinna as Andre. Note – first appearance for Rebecca Smart as Melanie Black and final appearance for Jon Pollard as Alan Bolton)
5 (96):
First aired on Tuesday February 4, 1997 on BBC2 in the United Kingdom at 6.25pm. First aired in Australia on Wednesday February 19, 1997 on ABC at 6pm (first half) then Thursday February 20, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by David Phillips
Directed by Geoffrey Bennett
Helen and Roberto plan a trip to Europe and the USA, to visit Con. Roberto sells the Shark Pool, but is conned into believing the new owner is Melanie’s dad, Tony, but is in fact the dodgy Leo. Leo plans to turn the Shark Pool into a nightclub, and sacks the underage gang. Stassy goes undercover to expose Leo for hosting an illegal gambling party at the Shark Pool, and Matt also gets Declan to get close to Melanie, as her dad is Leo’s financial advisor. Charlie moves into the warehouse with Stassy, and Kat gets jealous. Declan gets a job painting the school, and Roberto and Helen leave on their round-the-world trip.
(Guest stars Paul Rogers as Leo, and the first episode of a long guest appearance for Jim Holt as Tony. Final appearances for Ivar Kants as Roberto Bordino and Barbara Gouskos as Helen Bordino)
6 (97):
First aired on Tuesday February 11, 1997 on BBC2 in the United Kingdom at 6.25pm. First aired in Australia on Monday February 24, 1997 on ABC at 6pm (first half) then Tuesday February 25, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Sally Webb
Directed by Geoffrey Bennett
Results day arrives, and Charlie doesn’t quite get enough marks to study computer science. Katerina fails, and decides to become a dancer, but an audition doesn’t go so well, and Charlie and Kat both decide to repeat year 12. Matt gets 95%, and Stassy fails. Stassy’s father demands that she move back home as she has failed her exams, but it’s the last thing she wants. Matt decides to take a year out, and he and Stassy leave to travel Australia together. Declan confronts his boss for using stolen paint at the school. Aunt Magda, who has been looking after Kat since the Bordinos left, agrees for Kat to move into the warehouse with Charlie.
(Guest stars Anna Volska as Aunt Magda. Note – final appearances of Vince Poletto as Matt Logan and Tara Jakszewicz as Stassy Sumich)
7 (98):
First aired on Tuesday February 18, 1997 on BBC2 in the United Kingdom at 6.25pm. First aired in Australia on Wednesday February 26, 1997 on ABC at 6pm (first half) then Thursday February 27, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Leon Saunders
Directed by Andrew Prowse
Anita and Ryan arrive with their mother, Hilary. After being kicked out of his dad’s house, Hilary agrees for Ryan to live with her and Anita as long as he repeats year 12. Declan is evicted from his apartment following his mother’s move to a nursing home, and moves into the warehouse with Charlie and Kat. Charlie buys a car from Leo, but discovers that Leo has switched the parts for faulty ones. Ryan comes up with a plan to get the working parts back for Charlie. Anita and Mel find a purse on the beach and go to return it to the address inside, but the owner’s granddaughter accuses them of stealing the money that was inside it.
(Guest stars Paul Rogers as Leo. Note – first appearances of Lara Cox as Anita Scheppers, Rel Hunt as Ryan Scheppers and Tina Bursill as Hilary Scheppers)
8 (99):
First aired on Tuesday February 25, 1997 on BBC2 in the United Kingdom at 6.25pm. First aired in Australia on Monday March 3, 1997 on ABC at 6pm (first half) then Tuesday March 4, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Serge Lazareff
Directed by Andrew Prowse
Anita and Mel start their senior year, along with troublemaker, Drazic. Kat, Charlie and Ryan repeat. New head Les Bailey starts at the school, and ruffles a few feathers with his harsh discipline. Ryan and Drazic take an instant dislike to each other, and Drazic plants cigarettes on new student liaison officer Mel, resulting in her being suspended. Katerina is made manager of the Shark Pool, and the power goes to her head when she starts bossing Charlie and Declan about at the warehouse.
(Note – first appearance of Callan Mulvey as Bogdan Drazic, who would end up being the longest serving member of the cast, as Peter Sumner as Les Bailey)
9 (100):
First aired on Wednesday March 5, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Thursday March 6, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Vicki Madden-Custo
Directed by Daphne Paris
Everyone struggles in a heatwave. Katerina and Charlie complain about the heat at the warehouse, so Drazic, eager to get closer to Kat, steals a ceiling fan from the school for them. Bailey sends letters home to Ryan and Declan’s parents to try and stop them playing basketball during a free period. Declan is angry with Bailey and quits school. Ryan gets into a fight, and Hilary subsequently grounds both Ryan and Anita. Anita is angry that she will be unable to go to a concert with Mel, and storms out. Mel’s dad buys her a car, but she doesn’t want to flaunt her wealth in front of the others.
(Guest stars Jim Holt as Melanie’s dad Tony)
10 (101):
First aired on Monday March 10, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Tuesday March 11, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Phil McAloon
Directed by Daphne Paris
Declan starts work experience at the hospital where Hilary works, and has a hard time on his first day. Kat is angry with Charlie for forgetting their six month anniversary, and becomes jealous when her and Charlie have to draw a nude model in art class. Ryan and Drazic enrol in art class in order to admire the model, but Bailey on the other hand, is enraged and shuts the art classes down.
(Guest stars Loene Carmen as art class model)
11 (102):
First aired on Wednesday March 12, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Thursday March 13, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Peter Kinloch
Directed by Karl Zwicky
Anita and Ryan’s dad, Jeff, shows up, and Ryan has a dilemma when Jeff asks him to drop out of school and become part owner of his business. Katerina takes advantage of Mel when she covers for Declan at the Shark Pool. Later, Mel sees a way to get her revenge on Kat.
Drazic steals Charlie’s car for a spin, and ends up crashing into Bailey’s car. Bailey demands to know the culprit, but Drazic threatens Charlie into silence.
(Guest stars Andrew McFarlane as Jeff)
12 (103):
First aired on Monday March 17, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Tuesday March 18, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Howard Griffiths
Directed by Karl Zwicky
Ryan discovers that his father’s offer to become business partners comes with the condition that he signs over the land his grandad left to him. Kat encourages Melanie to hold a party at Mel’s place while her father is away, and Mel starts spending recklessly in the hope of becoming more popular at Hartley. Charlie is tired of being Drazic’s doormat, and starts training at volleyball so he can take him on at the sport.
(Guest stars Andrew McFarlane as Jeff, and Jim Holt as Tony)
13 (104):
First aired on Wednesday March 19, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Thursday March 20, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by David Phillips
Directed by Andrew Prowse
New student Mai Hem arrives at the school by police escort after crashing an exhibition. Mel starts a school newspaper, and asks Mai to be her sub-editor, who goes behind her back to print an offensive version of the first issue. Charlie convinces Ryan to become his partner at volleyball, and the pair take on Drazic and Bazza. Declan leaves after being accepted into nursing school in Bathurst, and the gang throw a farewell party.
(Guest stars Richard Cass as Bazza. Note – first appearance of Nina Liu as Stephanie “Mai Hem” Tan and final appearance of Rupert Reid as Declan Costello, ending the “middle era” of the show)
14 (105):
First aired on Monday March 24, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Tuesday March 25, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Sally Webb
Directed by Andrew Prowse
Bailey asks Charlie to drop out of the upcoming volleyball championship, as he believes Ryan and Drazic are the school’s best players, so Charlie feigns an injury as an excuse. Anita and Mai turn animal rights activists, and gatecrash a conference to protest against fur as fashion. When the police spot them, Mai runs away, leaving Anita to take the rap. Katerina interviews potential flatmates, but no-one is suitable, so Charlie comes up with a solution.
(Note – a new-look tidied up title sequence debuts in this episode following the cast revamp that occurred in previous episodes)
15 (106):
First aired on Wednesday March 26, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Thursday March 27, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Kevin Roberts
Directed by Jessica Hobbs
Anita suspects that Drazic has a reading problem when she is paired with him for a project. After at first protesting against working with him, Anita sees another side to Draz, and agrees to help him with his reading. Ryan starts a rumour that Mai is gay after she turns him down when he asks her out, and soon the news is all over school. Mai and Mel are forced to work together for their science project, and Mel unexpectedly catches a young boy shooting birds. Melanie becomes distracted in her efforts to get the boy punished, and Mai ends up getting the better mark, much to Mel’s dismay.
16 (107):
First aired on Monday March 31, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Tuesday April 1, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Greg Millin
Directed by Jessica Hobbs
Kat and Charlie find a baby on their doorstep, and Kat goes to see Hilary for help. Hilary tells them she needs to inform the authorities, but Charlie fears they will put the baby in an orphanage. Ryan has a problem with Anita seeing Draz, so Anita pretends she is at Mel’s place when she goes on another date with him. Bailey makes Mai sit a geography test when it emerges there is no proof of her having passed enough subjects to sit the HSC.
(Guest stars Natalie Morcos as the baby’s mother Lena, and Jon & Brent Kelly as Baby Winston)
17 (108):
First aired on Wednesday April 2, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Thursday April 3, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Serge Lazareff
Directed by Malcolm McDonald
Ryan’s old friend, Warren, comes to visit the Scheppers, and admits to Ryan he’s taking steroids in preparation for football trials. Ryan tries to convince Warren that steroids could ruin his health and his chances, but he refuses to listen. Charlie becomes tired of Katerina not considering his feelings and flirting with other guys. Kat agrees to stay at Mel’s for the night, hoping to teach Charlie a lesson, but her efforts backfire.
(Guest stars Jason Clarke as Warren)
18 (109):
First aired on Monday April 7, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Tuesday April 8, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Lisa Hoppe
Directed by Malcolm McDonald
Mai and Mel organise an interview with the Minister of Education for the school paper, on the other side of town. When they miss the bus they hitch a lift with a stranger, putting themselves in danger. Anita asks Drazic to act a scene with her from ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ to the class, but Draz is unable to relate to a story involving donkeys and fairies, so Anita comes up with an unconventional solution. Kat and Charlie bicker after the break-up, and fight over their stuff.
(Guest stars Richard Sutherland as Lou the stranger)
19 (110):
First aired on Wednesday April 9, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Thursday April 10, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Peter Kinloch
Directed by Andrew Prowse
Drazic is having a bad influence on Anita, and dares her to go shoplifting with him. Draz takes the rap when Anita is caught, letting her get away. Mai doesn’t believe Ryan when he says he likes intelligent girls, and plans to ‘expose’ him as a sexist pig in an article for the school paper. Mai starts dating Ryan in order to get material for the article, but doesn’t bank on developing feelings for him. Bailey enlists Charlie to help him get the new school computer equipment working, but when the computer crashes completely, Bailey is forced to admit he bought pirated software.
20 (111):
First aired on Monday April 14, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Tuesday April 15, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Howard Griffiths
Directed by Andrew Prowse
Mai invites Ryan over for a Chinese meal, but Ryan gets food poisoning, and has to pull out of the televised inter-school quiz. Desperate, Charlie and Mel recruit fame-hungry Katerina to be the third member of their team. Anita and Drazic prepare to face punishment at their shoplifting court case.
21 (112):
First aired on Wednesday April 16, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Thursday April 17, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Elizabeth Coleman
Directed by Richard Jasek
Katerina’s dance instructor, Blair, asks Kat to be his partner in a dance competition, and they soon develop a mutual attraction. Angry at how he hurt Anita and got her into trouble, Mel gives Draz a hard time when he is put to work as a lollipop man for his community service.
Ryan plans a romantic evening with Mai, but Mai tells him she isn’t ready to take the next step.
(Guest stars Paul Mercurio, known for Strictly Ballroom, as Blair)
22 (113):
First aired on Monday April 21, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Tuesday April 22, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Phil McAloon
Directed by Richard Jasek
Bailey threatens to expel Ryan if he doesn’t complete all his overdue work by the end of the week, so Ryan ropes Melanie in to doing the work for him. Draz is sacked from his lollipop man job, so is given a place as a lifeguard at the local leisure centre. Kat and Charlie need a new recruit at the Shark Pool. Kat hires Mai, while Charlie accepts Anita’s offer. Barely able to afford one of them, Charlie puts both of them on a week’s trial, and competition is rife.
23 (114):
First aired on Wednesday April 23, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Thursday April 24, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by David Phillips
Directed by Jessica Hobbs
Unconventional teacher Jay Jackson arrives at Hartley with his student daughter, Aurora, and Aurora tries to get close to Charlie. After Ryan’s previous treatment of her, Melanie arrives late to class with a new gothic image and obnoxious attitude. Mai, Anita and Ryan queue up all night for tickets to see a rock band, and Mai is hostile to Anita, believing she only wants to come between her and Ryan by tagging along to the concert. When Mai finds out Anita is a genuine fan of the band, Anita and Mai become unlikely friends.
(Guest stars Brendan Higgins as Jay, and Simone Kessell as Aurora)
24 (115):
First aired on Monday April 28, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Tuesday April 29, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Greg Millin
Directed by Jessica Hobbs
Ryan, Anita and Mai borrow Charlie’s car to get to the concert, and Anita’s seat belt is broken. When they crash, Anita ends up in hospital. Mel tells her dad that she is leaving for Byron Bay with teacher Jay, in order to work out what she wants from life. When Anita wakes from her coma, Mel realises how important her friendship is, and decides to stay. Charlie feels betrayed by Aurora when he sees her kissing another guy.
(Guest stars Brendan Higgins as Jay, and Simone Kessell as Aurora)
25 (116):
First aired on Wednesday April 30, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Thursday May 1, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Serge Lazareff
Directed by Andrew Prowse
Kat lets Drazic stay over at the shed for a few nights, and he tries to take over Charlie’s room and generally make his life hell. Anita is let out of hospital but faints when Kat leaves her alone serving customers at the Shark Pool. Bailey stops Mai, Mel and Charlie from using the computer room after school, and Ryan and his mates from playing basketball in the yard. Mai is furious as it means the end of the school paper, and Ryan talks the students into going on strike.
(Guest stars John Clayton as the school inspector Don Summers)
26 (117):
First aired on Monday May 5, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Tuesday May 6, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Kevin Roberts
Directed by Andrew Prowse
Melanie’s dad puts her name down for a six-month student exchange in France without telling her. She is annoyed he didn’t ask her first, but later decides to go. Before Mel leaves, her and Kat hold a yard sale, and Kat sells Mel’s grandma’s chair without realising it wasn’t for sale. Charlie and Draz cross paths with a thief when they arrive at school, and Draz is shocked to discover the thief is his friend Marco. Ryan agrees to donate blood after being pressured by Mai, despite his fear of needles.
(Guest stars John Tawadros as Marco. Note – Melanie leaves temporarily to go on a student exchange in France)
27 (118):
First aired on Wednesday May 7, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Thursday May 8, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Chris Roache
Directed by Lynn Hegarty
Ryan’s jokey comments lead Anita to feel insecure about her weight, and Charlie grows concerned that she isn’t eating enough. Katerina feels sorry for Ox when Drazic won’t stop making gags about his weight. She appoints herself as Ox’s personal trainer, and Drazic bets her $10 that he won’t lose an ounce. Ryan pulls out all the stops to romance Mai, and hires a hotel room for the two of them, but it becomes clear that Mai isn’t ready to take their relationship further.
(Guest stars Lewis Williams as Ox)
28 (119):
First aired on Monday May 12, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Tuesday May 13, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Kris Wyld
Directed by Lynn Hegarty
Anita takes a shine to new student Omar, and Charlie is jealous. Charlie tries to tell Anita how he feels about her, but she thinks he’s joking. When Ronnie disagrees with Omar’s opinions, he makes a complaint against her to Bailey. Mai and Ryan struggle to finish their paired project after breaking up. Katerina reports Drazic to the police when he won’t stop playing the guitar terribly.
(Guest stars Hani Malik as Omar)
29 (120):
First aired on Wednesday May 14, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Thursday May 15, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Peter Kinloch
Directed by Richard Jasek
Charlie tells Anita he has feelings for her after being prompted by Ryan, but she tells him she doesn’t feel the same. However, the next day she tells Charlie she’ll give it a go with him, admitting that his confession caught her by surprise. A charming businessman, Drew, recruits Kat to sell his health food products. She steals $200 from the Shark Pool to pay for the food, but then finds that she has been scammed. Drazic steals a rat from the science lab to prevent it from being dissected.
(Guest stars Drayton Morley as Drew)
30 (121):
First aired on Monday May 19, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Tuesday May 20, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Lisa Hoppe
Directed by Richard Jasek
Katerina and Mai are selected for work experience at a local art gallery, and, annoyed at her jibes that she has no interest in art, Kat plays a cruel trick on Mai. Anita disapproves when she finds out that Hilary is seeing one of her fellow psychology students, Tim, who is a lot younger than her. In an attempt to encourage the boys to get along, Bailey gives Ryan, Draz and Bazza the task of getting a bin out of a circle without stepping inside it, with the promise of $50 to the winner.
(Guest stars Paul Bishop as Tim and Richard Cass as Bazza)
31 (122):
First aired on Wednesday May 21, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Thursday May 22, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by David Phillips
Directed by Geoffrey Bennett
Melanie returns from France unexpectedly, and as her father is away, she moves in temporarily with the Scheppers. When Mel accidentally walks in on Ryan in the bathroom, Ryan starts to wrongly think she still holds a torch for him. A talent scout asks Drazic to try out for a blading team, and he is selected to join, with the chance to travel the world promoting a new soft drink. Mai campaigns for a common room for the seniors.
(Guest stars Vanessa Steele as the talent scout, who previously appeared as Tom Summers’ girlfriend Vicki in series 4. Note – Melanie returns)
32 (123):
First aired on Monday May 26, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Tuesday May 27, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Howard Griffiths
Directed by Geoffrey Bennett
Mel discovers a homeless woman living in the school grounds, and, missing her late mother, Mel allows the woman to move in at her place and keep her company. Drazic prepares to leave with the blading team for an advertising campaign in LA. Drazic can’t imagine life without Anita, and asks her to come with him, but she turns him down, reminding him that it’s over between them. Katerina and Charlie are joint winners of a television in a competition, and argue over who gets to keep it, forcing Mai to step in.
(Guest stars Jennifer Leslie as Grace, Jim Holt as Tony, and Vanessa Steele as the talent scout)
33 (124):
First aired on Wednesday May 28, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Thursday May 29, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Sally Webb
Directed by Jessica Hobbs
The council tells Charlie that his broken car must be moved from outside the Scheppers house. Drazic offers to fix it for free, hoping it will bring him closer to Anita. Ronnie sets up self-defence classes at school after she is mugged, and the girls are taken aback by their tough instructor. Bailey and Ryan campaign for a pedestrian crossing at the front of the school. When the council refuses, Bailey takes matters into his own hands.
(Guest stars Jemma Wilkes as the self-defence instructor)
34 (125):
First aired on Monday June 2, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Tuesday June 3, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Kevin Roberts
Directed by Jessica Hobbs
Ronnie organises a school sleepover as part of the 40 Hour Famine, in which Drazic causes a power cut so that he and Anita can sneak out together. Katerina starts her fast early so that she can lose weight to fit into a dress. Mai and Mel struggle to run the Shark Pool as well as look after Mai’s friend’s dog. Michelle, an old friend of Hilary’s, offers Ryan a waitering job at her marina, but soon makes it clear that she wants to get to know him on a more intimate level.
(Guest stars Arna Maria Winchester as Michelle, the real-life mother of Putu Winchester, who joins the cast in series 6 as Dennis)
35 (126):
First aired on Wednesday June 4, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Thursday June 5, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Greg Millin
Directed by Catherine Millar
Hilary is outraged to find out that Anita has rekindled her relationship with Drazic, and forbids her from seeing him. Mai’s estranged dad, John, turns up at Hartley, hoping to patch things up with his daughter. Mai and Katerina choreograph a performance art piece to perform at the Shark Pool. Mel lets Charlie stay with her after she finds out he’s been sleeping in the school since moving out of the Scheppers’ place.
(Guest stars Kee Chan as John)
36 (127):
First aired on Monday June 9, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Tuesday June 10, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Phil McAloon
Directed by Catherine Millar
Anita is unhappy with Drazic’s treatment of a blind teacher who comes to talk to the class, and challenges him to wear blacked-out sunglasses for a day. Mel and Charlie get together after a night out to celebrate getting the top 2 marks in a science test. Unbeknown to Ryan, Kat takes shots of him in his swimming shorts for her art project, and sells them to the girls of Hartley High. When Ryan finds out, he decides to exact revenge on Kat in the form of a personal ad in the local paper.
(Guest stars Nicholas Holland as the blind teacher)
37 (128):
First aired on Wednesday June 11, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Thursday June 12, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Serge Lazareff
Directed by Nico Lathouris
New teacher Tom Harding is recruited to help students struggling with maths, and despite her trying her best, is intent on picking on Kat. Mai meets a cute rollerblader, and asks Drazic to teach her how to rollerblade to impress him. Her efforts work, but she later discovers they have nothing in common. Ronnie assigns the class to act out job interviews, and Charlie’s anger over the break-up with Anita comes to the fore when he plays her employer.
(Guest stars Gerard Maguire as Tom)
38 (129):
First aired on Monday June 16, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Tuesday June 17, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by Peter Kinloch
Directed by Andrew Prowse
Drazic and Anita decide they want to move in together, and Draz gets involved in illegal dealings with Shark Pool owner Leo, in order to scrape enough money together for a deposit on a flat. Katerina decides she fancies Ryan and asks him round to the shed. The date comes to an abrupt end however, when Kat says Charlie’s name while kissing Ryan. Bailey recruits Charlie as his caddy at a golf contest.
(Guest stars Paul Rogers as Leo)
39 (130):
First aired on Wednesday June 18, 1997 on ABC in Australia at 6pm (first half) then Thursday June 19, 1997 at 6pm (second half)
Written by David Phillips
Directed by Andrew Prowse
When the school starts falling apart, Bailey announces that Hartley High is beyond repair, and that all seniors will be transferred to bigger school, Hartley Heights. The gang have a party to celebrate the closing of the school, and Melanie tracks down one of the earliest students, musician Rocky G, who agrees to perform at the party. Kat decides to apply for Performing Arts school in Western Australia, abandoning her HSC. Drazic and Ryan play a trick on Bailey, and Anita and Mai get jobs delivering gorillagrams for special occasions. At the leaving party, Anita and Mai pay a special tribute to Ronnie before she leaves.
(Guest stars Terry Bader as Rocky G. Note – the final episode in the original school. Final episodes for Ada Nicodemou as Katerina Ioannou, Sebastian Goldspink as Charlie Byrd and Deni Gordon as Ronnie Brooks)