Sally Fletcher Tribute
2007
The 2006 season left with Sally laying lifeless on the grounds of Summer Bay high after being stabbed by Rocco Cooper. So when 2007 began, everyone was curious as to whether she had made it.
She was found by Brad and was rushed to the hospital, where doctors started to operate on her. It was touch and go for a while but she managed to pull through, much to the relief of family, friends and viewers alike.
Even though she was making a good recovery, her memory of the night of the attack was non-existent and she was clueless as to who was responsible.
Whilst in hospital, Sally decided to leave her wedding ring off, signalling that she was happy to start a new chapter of her life with Brad. Brad wasn't so sure about taking the same step, however, and kept his ring on. Sally was fully supportive and understood that it was harder for him to take that step.
About a week after the attack, Sally was discharged from hospital and was welcomed home by family and friends who had arranged a 'Welcome Home' gathering. That night, Sally started to remember small details of the night of the attack, but her memories were sketchy and she was unable to piece anything together. Rocco was in the room when Sally was talking about her faint memories, and started to panic.
The following day, Rocco tried to leave the Bay but was stopped by Sally who wanted to know what was going on. Rocco simply said "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry", before walking out of the door. Those words jogged Sal's memory and she was able to remember that it was Rocco who stabbed her. Ric, being Ric, took things into his own hands and had a fight with Rocco, but was unable to stop him from getting in the car and driving off.
That afternoon, Rocco was found lying unconscious on the floor of an unknown house. Sally, Brad and Matilda were shocked to find Ric there with blood all over his hands. Ric told them that he had nothing to do with it, which Sally believed. But when Rocco died, Ric was sent to jail for his murder. However, with the help of Ric's family and friends, he was freed and let out around a week later. And all were overjoyed that he was back in Summer Bay House, particularly Sally.
The hospital ball was a happy occasion for Sally, when Brad announced that he was spending his wife and his mother's inheritance on funding a new scholarship for the hospital: The Flynn Saunders Fellowship Award. Sally was thrilled at Brad's kind gesture and they made the decision to move in together shortly afterwards. In true Home and Away style, Brad's welcoming into the house included a photo of him and Sally being placed on the mantle piece alongside the other family photos.
When Cassie set up the 'Summer Bay Helpline', Lily Nelson, one of the first callers, stayed at Summer Bay House. Sally was unaware that she was being hit by her boyfriend, but gave Lily's mother, who didn't believe that Lily was being hit, a good talking to when she found out.
Alf's eyesight was deteriorating to such an extent that while driving his ute he knocked Sally down. Sally wasn't hurt, but it made Alf think and give up driving.
When Brad's teaching career started to hit the rocks thanks to Lucas's ex-girlfriend Naomi making up lies to the education department, Sally supported him but had to break the news that he wasn't going to be reinstated as principal. Brad didn't seem overly concerned by the news, however, and pulled out a ring box and asked Sally to marry him. Sally was shocked and didn't think it was the right time to making a big decision that would change their lives. Brad was upset that Sally turned down his proposal and was also upset that the engagement party, which was going to include a cruise on Alf's boat, wasn't going to go ahead. However, Alf convinced Brad and the others to go on the boat anyway.
Brad had called Pippa days before and had asked her to come to the Bay for the engagement party, so she was surprised when Sally told her that she'd declined his proposal. But, Pippa supported Sally and knew that the decision she had made was the right one for her.
Stormy weather battered Summer Bay and caused Brad, Ric, Dan and Alf to go missing at sea. A long night was ahead for everyone, but especially Sally, who now felt terrible for not accepting Brad's proposal.
The next day the weather was clear and everyone on the boat was found safe and well. Sally had also had a change of heart and accepted Brad's offer of marriage.
Brad was keen to get things underway and set the wedding date for six weeks away. Sally told Brad that she thought it was too soon, but she later agreed on the date. Nerves continued to set in for Sally and it was obvious that she still wasn't happy. Things got even worse when it was revealed that Cassie was seeing Brad's best man, Henk, who had sexually assaulted Rachel eight years ago. Brad got into a fight with Henk which resulted in him being rushed to hospital. Sally asked Brad if they should call of the wedding considering what had just happened to Henk, but he said he still wanted it to go ahead.
The big day arrived, and with any Summer Bay wedding, it wasn't plain sailing. Everyone was down at the beach, except Sally. Back at Summer Bay House, Pippa and Sally had a chat and she told her that she just couldn't go through with it. That news got back to Brad, who was shocked but adament that she would change her mind. Wanting to know the reasons behind her decision, Fisher turned up at the house and asked Sally why she felt she couldn't go through with it. Sally told him that she did love Brad but felt like she was pretending by going through with the wedding. She then gave him a picture of her and Flynn renewing their wedding vowels.
Brad moved out of Summer Bay House, and things started to go downhill for Sally for a while. The teachers at Summer Bay High were worried about her and weren't impressed with how her homelife was effecting her at school. At home, with Ric away and Cassie staying with Henk, it was up to Sally to keep things running smoothly.
Brad's half-sister Tam stayed at Summer Bay House for a while, but eventually moved in with Brad at his new apartment.
Alf looked after little Pippa while Sally was at work, but when a woman knocked on the door asking Alf to move his ute, tragedy was just around the corner. Having witnessed the whole thing in front of her, Sally was frantic as she watched her little daughter walk out behind Alf's ute before being hit. She was taken to hospital where her condition slowly started to improve. However, it was touch and go for a while, with doctors' not sure if her back injuries were severe. Sally had an arguement with Alf in the hospital, and when Colleen and Leah started arranging a welcome home party for Pippa, Sally opened up to Leah about how she felt she had lost the one constant in her life - Mr Stewart.
She later changed her mind and had Colleen change Pippa's cake to 'welcome home Pippa and Mr Stewart'. With things at home back on more of an even keel and some of Brad's anger towards Sally, now diminished Sally began to think there was hope for them rekindling their romance. They shared a kiss but Brad was furious when the whole town found out and blamed Sally, not realising it was Colleen who had spread the news. Brad received an offer of a job in Tasmania and after a heart to heart with Sally, he told her that they loved each other but that it wasn't enough for her. They parted on good terms as he left the Bay for a fresh start.
With Pippa missing Brad and starting to have imaginary conversations with him, Sally began reminiscing about her own childhood imaginary friend Milco. She told Pippa about him and traced his name in the sand. Later on, further up the beach she found the same name 'Milco' traced in a different part of the sand and the year closed with Sally desperate to find out who had traced it.
