Donald Fisher (Home and Away)

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Donald Fisher
Portrayed by Norman Coburn
First appearance January 17, 1988
Pilot
Last appearance September 11, 2007
Episode 4502
Profile
Gender Male
Occupation Retired

Donald "Don" or "Flathead" Fisher is a fictional character on the Australian television soap opera Home and Away played by actor Norman Coburn as a regular character from the soap's inception in 1988 to 2003. Norman has since returned for brief appearances in 2004, 2005 and 2007. He will be returning in August 2008. No source

[edit] About Donald

Donald Fisher (or simply known by his surname, Fisher) was the local high school principal. Donald was known for his harsh treatment of others. His appearance seemed intimidating enough to make young Sally Fletcher cry when she first moved to Summer Bay with her foster family, when he addressed her.

Donald had other ties to the bay, he was married to Barbara Stewart, sister of local resident Alf. Donald and Barbara had been married for a number of years and had two children, Alan and Rebecca. Their marriage gradually broke down and Donald rarely saw his children.

Little did Donald know that he had another child; local tomboy Bobby Simpson, who he had openly despised. Bobby was the product of a torrid one night stand between Donald and his then sister-in-law Morag Bellingham. Morag subsequently had Bobby adopted out to Al Simpson. Despite all of this, Donald and Bobby became close for several years but tragedy struck when Bobby died aged 23 during a boating accident with her husband, Greg, and family friend Adam Cameron. This was a blow to Fisher, as Alan had died five years earlier of a brain aneurysm following a surfing accident.

Fisher came to have a surrogate family in the form of his niece, Lucinda Croft's boyfriend Nick Parrish, a local policeman who he built up a friendship with; Shane, Nick's wayward teenage brother and Angel Brooks, a runaway teenager.

As time went on, people grew to realise Donald wasn't actually made of stone and cared deeply about the interests of his students.

Fisher found love again in the form of Marilyn Chambers , the local beautician who was at least 30 years his junior. After some religious hurdles (Donald being Anglican and Marilyn being Catholic) they married in 1996.

Donald's daughter Rebecca later returned to the Bay full time and married local resident Travis Nash in a ceremony on the beach in 1997.

After Pippa Ross, Sally's foster mother, left Summer Bay in 1998, Donald offered to take charge of his adoptive grandson Sam (who called him "Uncle Donald") after Sam failed to adjust to Travis and Rebecca as his new carers.

Marilyn fell pregnant in 1998 and birthed a son, Byron Vincent, who was named after Vinnie Patterson who illegally sped through traffic to get Marilyn to hospital. Marilyn suffered post-natal depression and left Donald alone with Byron.

When Marilyn returned a few months later, she felt inadequate but later grew to love Byron. This was only to last a few months as Byron was diagnosed with cancer. Donald and Marilyn left with Byron for America to get treatment, but Byron later died. Marilyn, unable to cope, left Donald putting an end to their marriage.

In 2000, Donald had the honour of carrying the Olympic flame through Summer Bay only to be told by Alf, "Don, stop! It's the wrong flamin' flame!" in a humorous scene.

In 2001, after Sam had left the bay, Donald felt alone again. Seb Miller, a dyslexic student, began questioning Fisher and asking questions about Alan. It later turned out that Seb's mother Anna had a one night stand with Alan at a party in 1986, resulting in Seb's conception. Donald didn't want to believe this at first but a DNA test confirmed Seb was, in fact, his grandson.

Donald and Seb later built up a close relationship and lived together for several years.

In 2003, Donald left the bay for the Whitsundays with his new partner June, the mother of Harry Reynolds, one of his teachers.

Donald returned to Summer Bay later that year to be the celebrant for the wedding of Sally to Flynn Saunders and returned the following year following Seb being injured in a car accident caused by Duncan Stewart, Seb's first cousin removed and Alf's son. Seb was left paralysed and Donald offered to fly him back to the Whitsundays and look after him.

Donald also returned in 2005 for Alf's 60th birthday party where he forgave Duncan after he apologised about the previous year's incident.

In late 2007, Don returned to Summer Bay as the new Vice Principal of Summer Bay but he soon resigned saying that he couldn't handle the students anymore. It was revealed that Donald had divorced June and had gone bankrupt. After borrowing some Money from Alf and Morag, Donald went to visit Marilyn in England.