Episode 186

Australian Air Date: 3rd October 1988
UK Air Date: 30th October 1989
Writer: Lyn Ogilvy
Director: Tina Butler

Sally misses out on the John Farnham concert, but will receive a visit from the star himself.

JOHN FARNHAM (JOHN FARNHAM)
First episode. National music celebrity who visited the Bay after Sally won a competition.
ALISON PATTERSON (KATHRYN RIDLEY)
Twenty-third appearance, last seen in #183. Took her rude remarks to Walter Bertram too far.
SKID (CHRIS HARDING)
First appearance. Revhead’s mate. Maliciously poked fun at Walter Bertram’s return to the community.
LOCAL LOUT (DEAN DUNSTON)
Mate of Skid’s. Maliciously poked fun at Walter Bertram’s return to the community.
PATSY (TAYLOR OWYNNS)
First episode. John’s Farnham’s PR lady.
PIANO COMPETITOR (SIERRA DOHERTY GILLIN)

Extended Summary

Walter has been staying with Donald for four days but hasn’t left the house and mostly just sits in a chair depressed. Pippa persuades him to come out with her but a group of young hoons drive past them and abuse Walter. Pippa tells Walter to ignore them. When they get to the store, they sit with Frank, Bobby and Alison. Frank and Bobby are pleasant to Walter but Alison makes a few nasty comments. Colleen also seems uncomfortable around Walter. When Alison makes another comment, however, Colleen throws her out and apologises to Walter for her reaction.

Night falls, and Sally wakes up with a very bad case of chicken pox. The John Farnham concert is the following night so she gives Frank and bobby the tickets and they are thrilled. They promise to get his autograph for her.

A brick is thrown through Donald’s window while he and Walter are talking. A note attached says “get rid of the Nutter or we torch your house”. Don manages to convince Walter it’s nothing to do with him and it was just a student with a grudge but tells Pippa he’s worried Walter might leave town if he hears about it.

Alison hears that Sally can’t go to the concert so she goes to the Fletchers and tells Pippa and Carly that her sister Kim, Sally’s friend, asked her to give her a card. She then tries to buy the tickets off Sally for ten dollars. When Pippa comes up, Sally tells her what Alison said and that she still wants to give them to Frank and Bobby. When she hears Sally has chicken pox and is very contagious, Alison beats a hasty retreat.

Frank and Bobby go to the concert and have a great time. They meet Whispering Jack after and tell him all about Sally and how they ended up here. John Farnham feels sorry for Sal and decides to go and visit her! They ring Tom and Pippa and tell them – and suddenly Pippa has a brainwave as to how to help Walter. She goes to see Donald the next morning but is worried when he tells her the whole town knows about John Farnham, since he didn’t want any publicity: She thinks John might be their best chance of helping Walter.

Thanks to Derrick M. Domican.