(Played by Neville Stonehouse, Episode 291 - 1982)
I think anyone who thought I'd leave this legend out was barking mad. What the Customer did for the promotion of marinara's can't be measured. His trenchant treatment of poor Susie Driscoll cut short a promising career in the Pizza industry and ultimately sent her on a spiral towards prostitution and drug use...The customer demands his respect, and then some.
49) Geoff Carlson
(Played by Danny Adcock, Episodes 318-322, 327-332 - 1982/83)
A short but memorable character, who highlights the two trips to Woodridge in late 82 and early 83. His strict, no-nonsense handling of the Wentworth women was entertaining, as was his fatherly treatment of Andy Hudson, which never descended into mollycoddling.
His admiration of Colleen Powell nearly developed into an affair, but Powell chose her boring husband ahead of him. Carlson - a mans man - accepted this, a quality screw, whose transfer to Wentworth would not have been unwelcome.
(Played by Les Dayman, Episodes 500-534, 556 - 1984-85)
Quality character, whose inclusion in amongst the male Woodridge inmates in late 1984 was vital. A mature older head was needed to deal with the impetuousness of Delaney and the deviance of Frank Burke. He supplied warmth and honesty, and stole Myra's heart. A versatile character who didn't do much wrong in his tenure.
(Played by Kate Hood, Episodes 601-692, 1986)
Often given a hard time by myself, Kate Hood did a wonderful job in portraying a complicated woman. Kath had to learn the system the hard way, and she emerged with her sanity intact. She suffered a drug addiction, several beatings and a husband who abandoned her, but she remained strong, and with her friend Merle Jones, was able to turn the tables. She went through a huge amount of change in her year inside, and her redemption at the end of the series is very fulfilling to see.
46) Judy Bryant
(Played by Betty Bobbitt, Episodes 91-534 - 1980-85)
I feel I better include Judy. Unlike Meg Morris, whose vapid antics rarely stirred even a smidgeon of entertainment, Jude's sturdy frame contained a backbone that didn't fear raising the ire of Top-Dogs Smith and Desmond, and that's the quality that earns her a place in the list, and certainly not her time in the Halfway house.
Judy was of course the lesser half of the rivalry with Jock Stewart, and her profile is elevated as a result. The character ran on too long by about a year, but I wouldn't excise any of her work in 1984-5, rather her time in 1983.
45) Sandy Edwards
(Played by Louise Le Nay, Episodes 235-264, 1981-82)
If not for pregnancy, Le Nay's continuance in the role of Sandy may very well have altered what was in store for 1982. We'll never know the original plans for the story, nor how long Sandy would have stayed on. She's not uber high on the list because I just don't think she had that zing, that spark, that sets apart the good and the great.
She was in PCBH at a really good time, and surrounded by all sorts of class. She smashes the burgeoning corruption of Colleen Powell, and handles the death of her husband with adroit class, but her failure to realize the true danger of Dr Kate Peterson was her undoing, but there was some a-grade excellence on frequent occasions.
(Played by Susan Guerin, Episodes 300-326, 1982)
Poor old Babs, she went into Wentworth a pretty young thing, exited as charred bone in a bodybag...a grim demise for a cool short-term character, who set about being a rare change from the predictable 'all posh prisoners are wimps and pompous' direction they usually take, even with Sally Dempster in at the same time as her, Barbara was kept away. She dealt only with certain prisoners...and new officer Joan Ferguson. Alas, it was not Bea, or Chrissie who landed the first blows onto the indestructable Freak...but little Barbara, who arranged the burglary of her home and the murder of her dog without breaking a sweat. It was Fields who was used as a tool to the lengths that Ferguson would go to, and she deserves mucho credit for Joan's early success. Very cute and very watchable.
43) Steve Faulkner
(Played by Wayne Jarratt, Episodes 245-316, 1981-82)
What I liked about Steve is that he was a try-hard. You couldn't fail to like the chirpy youngster as he used the prison service to fund his boat. Most of the officers liked him, most of the prisoners liked him, and he liked them right back.
While Jim Fletcher made no secret of fancying some of the inmates, he usually waited till they were out of the games, aside from Len's grotty bit of sex with Lou Kelly, Steve is the only officer ever to get his end away consensually...and he gets away with it. His playboy lifestyle continues with an affair with receptionist Wendy, before setting his sights on Barbara Fields, a move that cost him his career...just when he had started to care. Wayne Jarratts warmth in the role of Steve gave it that extra gloss, and it was hard not to feel sorry for him when he left the show. Wayne then tragically left the show that is life in 1988, a huge shame.
42) Erica Davidson
(Played by Patsy King, Episodes 1-360, 424-428. 451-454. 1979-83. 1984)
When I'm watching Erica at her best - shouting down Vera - during the early seasons of the show, then I think to myself 'she's just as good as Ann Reynolds'...but when I reach Ann's episodes, Reynolds knocks her dead, everytime. But being inferior to the superior Ann doesn't take away Erica's effectiveness as the original Governor of Wentworth, in the gloomy camp of 1979, she was perfect as she clip-clopped down the corridors of Wentworth, spouting well-heeled morals to the likes of Doreen while spitting ultimatums to the worst offenders.
Erica's ferocious arguments with Vera were the the clear highlight of the painful first 40 episodes, and these rows gave equal weight to each woman, not many deputies have gotten away with this level of free speech, and it gave huge importance to the deputy governor role right from the off. Davidson also had memorable scenes with Bea Smith and Colleen Powell and did not allow Meg to chum up to her as much as Ann did...in this area, Erica had her beat.
41) Terry Harrison
(Played by Brian Hannan, Episodes 199-223, 1981)
This is the third staff member in a row, which suggests I prefer the screws over the inmates - and that's exactly right. I've always been of the opinions that the officers make the show, and this guy certainly did all he could to prove that point. At a time when Joan Ferguson wasn't even thought of, Mr Harrison walked into Wentworth and shooks things up no end. He was most certainly corrupt, one has to watch the ease in which he deals with Margo Gaffney...but he was also pretty evil, not quite as elaborate as Jock Stewart, but in a different way just as bad - just look at the way he manipulates Kathy Hall and sends her to her death.
But at the same time, he was lovable. His friendship with Jim was great, and his wooing of Vera broke down her defensive wall for the first time in some years. By 1981, there had been many deaths featured grandly in the show, but never had a current staff member of Wentworth died until Terry was shot dead in episode 223...Terry was a strange guy, which is what was so great about him. Excellently played by Brian Hannan.
