Alf Stewart

Alf Stewart is a good natured rogue with a finger in every pie. By the age of 30, he owned the Summer Bay Liquor Store, the Boat Hire Service, the Summer Bay Caravan Park and a yacht brokerage.

He was married to Martha Stewart, a local lass whom he adored very much. She died from drowning in 1985; it shattered Alf so much. They lived in Summer Bay house, which later became the Fletchers' house.

After her death, Alf could no longer stand living there. As a tribute to her memory, he kept the house spick and span; in the meantime, the caravan park worsened into a state of disrepair when sold to the Fletchers. He also lost other businesses.

Alf is a brother to Celia and Morag Bellingham, who was later revealed to be Bobby's mother. He is also a brother of Barbara Fisher, who is an ex-wife of Donald Fisher.

When Ailsa Hogan arrived in Summer Bay, he went out with her. He was attracted to her, but was unsure of how far he would like his relationship with her to go. He has a daughter, Ruth, whom everyone called Roo. She hated Ailsa that she went great lengths to find something unsavoury about her. Despite Roo's hostility, Alf stuck with Ailsa, which Roo later accepted.

They married on the spot in a registry and surprised Roo and Celia.

In 1989, Alf was delighted when he had a son, whom they called Duncan. Unfortunately for him, Ailsa suffered from post-natal depression.

In later years, he had businesses in different locations, but they rarely stayed long - one was damaged by an earthquake, another by fire and so on.

Alf opened a business with Jesse McGregor, who was a crook in his younger days; they opened a bait store which they called 'Alf and Jesse's Baits and Bits Store'. However, the place was burnt down by a madman.

In 1995, his wife went through a period of depression. He tried to help her, but to no avail.

Alf had a few near heart attacks and was constantly told to slow down. Despite this, he still continued his busy life.

Duncan had an accident on council lands which ended in him being in hospital for a long time. This angered Alf, and since then, he lost interest in the council.

Despite his old fashioned ways, he is a good natured person who meant well. He was shocked when a female lifeguard was employed but accepted it.

Alf is yet to receive a shock when his wife dies...

Worse to come may be his death in 2001...lets hope he does not leave...

created 23 October 2000

RAY MEAGHER

Ray Meagher has established a formidable reputation as a character actor on stage and television. He has appeared in more than 60 television productions: in shows such as Mother and Son, Kingswood Country, Pig in a Poke, A Country Practice, Rafferty's Rules through to mini-series such as The Great Bookie Robbery, Vietnam and A Fortunate Life.

Ray has also appeared in Prisoner twice, as a Vietnam veteran and later as a Governor.

In 1988, he appeared in the mini-series The Shiralee which was shown on Seven Network, True Believers shown on ABC and Spit MacPhee on Nine Network.

His work in film and theatre is equally as impressive: he has appeared in over 20 theatre productions and 29 films.

Ray has been involved in the show business industry for over 25 years.