Philip Matheson
Philip Matheson (1988-1989)
John Morris
Episodes: 154–293
Siblings: Brett Matheson
Marital Status: Stacey Macklin (1989, engaged)
Occupation: Doctor
Philip first came to Summer Bay to see Steven on the anniversary of his parent’s death. A Doctor, he was put into action in typical Summer Bay style by delivering Pippa’s baby. He was also inadvertantly responsible for splitting up Steven’s relationship with older woman Narelle who fell for him. Philip helped Steven to make it look as if he had dumped Narelle not the other way round.
turned up in Summer Bay to the surprise of his nephew Steven and became a lodger in the general store flat with Frank and Narelle. He fell instantly for newcomer Stacey but she was to busy with work to be seduced. When she repeatedly turned down his dinner invites he took a chinese take away to her office but she was distinctively unimpressed.
He was in the right place at the right time though when Stacey’s brother Brett robbed the Macklin safe and took off with Roo and his daughter, Martha. Chasing them in the car, Phil managed to overtake them and tried to get Martha from the car but Brett slammed the door on his fingers and he needed surgery to repair severed tendons. With the news that his hand would never regain full mobility Philip had to accept the fact that his dreams of being a surgeon were over.
Jealous that Stacey accepted a date with Jeff Samels, Phillip asked Alison out but was surprised when she accepted, he had expected and wanted her to refuse. Luckily things quickly fizzled out and Phillip was delighted when Stacey asked him out. They had a great date with Stacey confiding that she liked him and they shared a kiss, becoming an item. Together they investigated Gary Samuels and found evidence that suggested he was responsible for a car accident in which his parents were killed. When they confronted him he admitted that it was an accident and met them on a high cliff before jumping off. It was quickly revealed that he hadn’t actually jumped but was playing games. He later went to the papers with the truth about his parents and made Stacey and Phil look bad. He was later found dead and though Phil was a suspect, Gary was revealed to have jumped.
There were further problems for Stacey and Phil when he decided he needed to move to the city for his career and Stacey refused to go with him. He didn’t stay away long though, returning in the season return to ask Stacey if he could set up a practice in The Macklin resort but he turned out to be too late as Stacey had already agreed to marry her father’s friend Nicholas. Phillip refused to give in though and his persistance was rewarded when Stacey got back with him. Then together, with the help of Alf, Tom and Ailsa they manage to get rid of Nicholas.
They soon agreed to marry, but this was met from opposition from Stacey’s father who thought that Philip wasn’t rich enough. Overhearing this, Philip put the marriage on hold. A few weeks later, Stacey had some shocking news when she discovered she was pregnant and did not know whether or not Phil or Nicholas was the father. It turned out to be a storm in a teacup when it was discovered that Stacey wasn’t pregnant after all after a blood test mix up. However they decide to confim their engagement.
Someone steals Phil’s pills and the main suspect is Dodge. To get back at Celia, Dodge firebombs Celia’s store. Philip, who had been going down to the city to meet Stacey had suffered a flat tyre and went back to the store flat for the night. It is eventually discovered that it was Phillip who had died in the father and Steven was left to face the nightmare of another member of his family burning to death.