SENIOR SERGEANT TOM CROYDON
Tom Croydon has remained the 'glue' that holds the station together. He took the loss of one of his young constables, Jack Lawson, as a point to regroup his troops and re-establish the station's comradery. Late in the year, Tom caused a rift with long time friend Chris Riley, by asking Reverend Grace Curtis to the Rotary Dinner. Since then, Tom and Grace have grown closer, and we expect things to pick up more in 2002.

SENIOR DETECTIVE PATRICK JOSEPH HASHEM
PJ had his usual flux of cases to deal with this year... oh, and he also shaved his head! Early in the year, PJ's mum came to stay, and PJ decided to buy a house for them to share. Little did he know that his mum would run off with some guy and leave PJ to live on his lonesome. This was until of course, Ben moved in, the two of them making the perfect couple. Throughout the year, PJ passed on much of his expertise in detective work to young Jo, often taking her "under his wing" to bring out her natural talent. He must be growing a soft spot in his old age, as when Evan Jones joined the team, he gave him the support he needed.

SERGEANT TERESA GALLAGHER
Tess has had the spotlight shone on her all year... from her fling with Lawson, to her fostering of Hayley, then her budding romance with Jonesy, things just couldn't get more hectic. We were left at the end of 2000 beleiving that Tess had feelings for Jack... however when the new season began, it was discovered that Jack's enthusiasm for Tess was not reciprocated. After many instances of the two working together in dangerous situations, Tess succumbed to Jack's advances. Unfortunately, the romance was doomed from the outset, for Jack had been developing a mean streak and becoming irrationally obsessed against drug and gun criminals. When Jack left (see Jack's section), Tess was heart broken, and she tried sending him bail money, but to her disappointment, it was returned by Jack who did not want her help. Tess, who was once the outcast, has now become part of the team. Her initial disagreements with Parish have settled down, and she has now found a new interest in Evan "Jonesy" Jones.

SENIOR CONSTABLE BEN STEWART
Ben's year has been one of sadness and phone breaking! Early in 2001, Ben's family moved to Perth, leaving him distraught and angry. This affected his work and Tom forced him to take a week off. At Christmas, Ben thought he would fly the kids to Mt Thomas for Christmas. However, after wrongly making his children choose between him and Frank (Frank was taking them to California), Ben overcame his grief, and began spreading the Christmas cheer among children at the church play. Benny Boy won the hearts of all the kids, after inviting them back to PJ's place after the play! In terms of his police work, Ben is still without the promotion he is long overdue for.

CONSTABLE JACK LAWSON
Yuck! Please forgive us for ripping into Jack... we just don't like him, plain and simple (much like himself)! Beginning 2001 as the nice simple guy, Lawson was cured of his paraplegia, after removal of the bullet lodged in his back. However, Jack could not forget the circumstances surrounding his devastating injury in 2000. Jack became a vigilante, targeting all the criminals associated with drugs and firearms. As a result, his police work was compromised and Lawson began going off the rails. Poor Tess was torn between keeping Jack on track and defending him to the boss. Jack's efforts came to a front when chasing a suspected drug pusher up a tower. The suspect fell through weakened floor boards, and Jack had to decide whether to lift him back to safety, or to let him fall to a horrible death. In a shock move that stunned all viewers, Lawson let the man fall. In an added twist, the deceased turned out NOT to be the culprit. Jack was promptly arrested for murder, but the charges were later downgraded to manslaughter with a guilty plea.

CONSTABLE JOANNA PARISH
Jo has begun to show a real flair for police work, particularly as PJ's offsider. Early in the year, Jo's parents came to town, and her father kept popping into the station just to say "hi"! This prompted Tess to call Jo a "spoilt brat"... further souring the relationship between the two ladies of the station. Later in the year, Jo became buddy-buddy with the boys, joining in on wrestling nights and drinking beer at the pub. After being caught on television making a dramatic arrest, Jo reveived her "15 minutes of fame", and was forced into doing interview after interview alongside Inspector Rusty Falcon-Prick... ahh Price. During this particular episode, Jo fell in the mud TWO TIMES! Although saddened by her mate, Stretch Lawson's departure, Jo has found a new pal in Constable Evan Jones!

CONSTABLE EVAN JONES
You probably think we've said enough about Evan in all our articles... but we will say it again... JONESY is the saviour of Blue Heelers. Arriving in July to replace the jailed Jack Lawson, Jonesy created a stir by fixing his sights on Tess. Gallagher was not initially impressed, leaving Evan to tidy the stationary cupboard. Little did Tess know, that Jonesy would completely revolutionise the file system and re-organise everything. He touched our hearts with a little sign reading "work in progress", and was later the toast of the station because of his clerical work! Jonesy had a hidden agenda in joining the force (to bring justice to his father's killer), but later confessed to Tess that he would stay a copper because he thought he "might be really good at it". Jonesy has impeccable side burns. Another skill he brings to the job is his ability to relate to witnesses and draw information out of them that others can't. Jonesy is a sensitive guy, who already is much loved by all.

TOM'S FAVOURITE CHARACTER OF THE YEAR... EVAN JONES
RINNY'S FAVOURITE CHARACTER OF THE YEAR... EVAN JONES

TOM'S FAVOURITE STORYLINE... LAWSON SENT TO JAIL
RINNY'S FAVOURITE STORYLINE... JONESY'S ARRIVAL & LES ANDERSON FIASCO