Blue Heelers (season 5)

Blue Heelers
Season 5
Blue Heelers cast of 1998
Country of origin Australia
No. of episodes 41
Release
Original network Seven Network
Original release 24 February –
25 November 1998
Season chronology

The fifth season of the Australian police-drama Blue Heelers premiered on the Seven Network on 24 February 1998 and aired on Wednesday nights at 8:30 PM. The 41-episode season concluded 25 November 1998.

The 41-episode fifth season saw the show move to Wednesday nights at 8:30 PM, making way for All Saints on Tuesdays at 8.30 PM. Ratings dipped, but finished still finished the number 2 show for the year with 2,240,000 in the five cities.

Casting

Main

Damian Walshe-Howling appeared in the full season as Adam Cooper but finished his almost five-year career on the show with the show's season five finale - "Rotten Apple (Part 2)".

Paul Bishop began his playing his part of Ben Stewart before he actually became a permanent cast member in the episode "Nine Lives". William McInnes left the series because of lack of his storyline in the show and moving on to further projects.

Recurring

Guests

Awards

Episodes

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Australian air date
171 1 "Secrets (1)" Richard Jasek Jenny Lewis 24 February 1998
It seems that everyone has forgotten Dash's birthday. And she finds herself in the middle of a school hostage situation
172 2 "Secrets (2)" Russell Burton David Marsh 25 February 1998
Dash tries to outwit the gunman who has taken her hostage while the other Heelers search for her.
173 3 "Smoke and Mirrors" Karl Steinberg Cassandra Carter 4 March 1998
Adam discovers everyone is not always as they seem when he gets a startling surprise when he discovers a big secret about one of his friends. Will he let this secret impact on their friendship and will they be able to get through all right?
174 4 "Moving House" Fiona Banks David Allen 11 March 1998
A local resident Bob Barker reports that his house has been stolen and Tom's friend Sally Downie is involved. Tom is in a dilemma: Should he risk his bias or try to continue to prove her innocence or leave it to Maggie and PJ?
175 5 "Piece of Cake" Steve Mann Bill Garner 18 March 1998
The station is thrown into chaos when a review team arrives in Mount Thomas
176 6 "Keeping Mum" Russell Burton Peter Dick & David Allen 25 March 1998
When P.J. suspects Monica Draper of covering up a crime, a shocking secret is revealed when her past re-surfaces and P.J has to make a big decision, will he take revenge on Monica Draper for the years that she treated him unfairly or, will he let go of these feelings and support Monica in her time of need.
177 7 "Letting Go" Richard Jasek Paul Davies 1 April 1998
Nick is forced to face up to a long-standing grievance against his family and P.J becomes Sargeant
178 8 "The Whistle Blower" Simon Phillips Susan Hore 8 April 1998
P.J's CI replacement Deborah Hill arrives in Mount Thomas and starts to make waves with the Heelers and accusations go flying everywhere when distrust creates tension when she accuses Nick of pushing her down the stairs of a stakeout
179 9 "King of Hearts" Steve Mann Ysabelle Dean 15 April 1998
Nick's plans to marry Zoe are tested when they are both accused of murder. Martin Bridport turns up, claiming to be Zoe's boyfriend. Zoe becomes angry when he kills her horse, and won't leave when told to, claiming that they are still together. Attempting to smooth things over, Nick takes Zoe to the Imperial where Martin Bridport again turns up and Nick loses his cool with him. The next day Nick is woken and told that Martin Bridport is dead. Nick refuses to cooperate with the Homicide squad or even the other Heelers
180 10 "When Love's Not Enough" Richard Jasek Judy Colquhoun 22 April 1998
When Dash uncovers a case of neglect, it places Tom in the difficult position of deciding if he will betray a friend's trust while trying to defuse the situation at the same time is forced to make a choice about Clancy and Leonie who are positive that their daughter Rachel will be taken from them and they run away in desperation in the middle of a meningitis outbreak
181 11 "Stars in Their Eyes" Kevin Carlin Matthew Williams 29 April 1998
Dash finds herself babysitting two dodgy film producers when movie fever hits Mount Thomas
182 12 "She Killed Santa" Richard Burton Dave Marsh 6 May 1998
Maggie takes on the responsibility of an Assistant Crown Prosecutor in a criminal trial. Tom finds himself on the side of the accused, a woman charged with the murder of her husband.
183 13 "This Mortal Coil" Justin McSwiney Cassandra Carter 13 May 1998
The Heelers' fears are realized , when a woman suffering from Motor Neurone Disease is found dead. Her family's pleas for her to be euthanised make Zoe sure that it was not the disease that ended her suffering.
184 14 "Waste of Space" Chris Langman Jenny Lewis 20 May 1998
Strange things are happening in the Eventide Retirement Home. Valuables are going missing. A person is found dead in mysterious circumstances and another puts others lives in danger when he hallucinates after smoking marijuana.
185 15 "A Bit of Biff" Ray Quint Bill Garner 27 May 1998
A visiting troupe of boxers cause headaches for the Heelers with a series of brawling and pick pocketing incidents. Adam boxes for charity to Tom's disapproval.
186 16 "Mr. Lucky" Fiona Banks John Banas 3 June 1998
"Mr. Lucky" is Enzo Fiorelli, a charming, charismatic and successful con man. Released after a long stretch in prison, he blows his witness protection cover and returns to Mount Thomas where he receives hate mail, a brick through the windscreen of his expensive car and finally a bullet through one of his tyres.
187 17 "Deception" Russell Burton Michael Winter 10 June 1998
Sally Downie, the woman in Tom's life has been abducted and the Heelers suspect the same two violent criminals who are holding hostage the daughter of a con man.
188 18 "Catch of the Day" Pino Amenta David Anthony 17 June 1998

Adam and Dash find intrepid reporter for the Mount Thomas Gazette, Tony Timms, dazed and injured on the riverbank while they are investigating a reported explosion.

After eating fish at a charity dinner, the Heelers come down with food poisoning.
189 19 "Deed not the Breed" Richard Sarell Ysabelle Dean 24 June 1998
Dash is befriended by a stray dog, but when she brings it back to the station it attacks Nick and causes havoc. When she defies Tom by not taking it to the pound, she becomes almost obsessively defensive of the animal. Tom is seriously annoyed with her for her insubordination, but the wind is taken out of his sails when he learns that she has cancer.
190 20 "Victims" Richard Sarell David Boutland 1 July 1998
Tom is faced with a dilemma when a mother asks him to protect her son, a convicted felon who is back home after early release. The news brings Detective Ben Stewart from Organized Crime to Mount Thomas who takes a shine to Maggie to P.J.'s disapproval. And Ben and P.J walk into a siege situation.
191 21 "The Living Dead" Richard Jasek Michaeley O'Brien 8 July 1998
Maggie and PJ discover a road accident victim has been shot with a bullet from a missing police gun. Visiting detective Peppy Romano is convinced the death is a life insurance fraud, but events soon take a mysterious turn
192 22 "Spinning the Yarn" Fiona Banks Mary McCormick 15 July 1998
Maggie and P.J. uncover a bitter family feud that threatens to destroy the love of two young musicians.
193 23 "The Dark Side" Russell Burton David Allen 22 July 1998
Maggie and P.J. find their relationship under pressure when a visiting detective, Ben Stewart is accused of murder.
194 24 "Intervention" Fiona Banks Cass Carter 29 July 1998
Nick questions his ability to continue in the Police Force when he puts a woman's life at risk.
195 25 "Murder in Mind" Richard Jasek John Banas 5 August 1998
Tom clashes with Chris when she fights passionately to save a friend who is accused of an unsolved 50-year-old murder.
196 26 "Blood Ties" Steve Mann David Marsh 12 August 1998
While P.J. waits for the result of a blood test, Maggie helps him search for a young man who holds the key to saving both their lives.
197 27 "Little Monsters" Chris Langman Bill Garner 19 August 1998
Mount Thomas is in the grip of fear as a serial killer stalks the area. Adam becomes a hero by apprending a suspect on his own. Later, however, Dash is appalled to learn that one of four suspects that are budding serial killers, is her niece Fiona.
198 28 "Nine Lives" Grant Brown Tony Morphett 26 August 1998

Ben returns to a permanent posting in Mount Thomas and quickly tests all the other Heelers' loyalties.

First Appearance of Senior Constable Benjamin Stewart
199 29 "Missing Digits" Richard Jasek Grace Morris & Caroline Stanton 2 September 1998
P.J. and Ben compete to win Maggie over by solving the mystery behind a lawyer's death.
200 30 "Child's Play" Steve Mann Michael Winter & David Allen 9 September 1998
Dash learns that a woman's reason for suiciding may have been caused by her infertility due chemotherapy.
201 31 "False Alarms" Karl Steinberg Geraldine Pilkington 16 September 1998
When Adam finds himself in serious trouble with Tom, he is tempted to take an offer that could end his career.
202 32 "Nobody's Perfect" Grant Brown Caroline Stanton & Mary McCormick 23 September 1998
Ben fights for the life of a troubled teenager while Adam is tempted by a bribe.
203 33 "Turkish Delight" Richard Jasek Cassandra Carter 30 September 1998
Nick fears for the life of a young Turkish woman who disappears after her parents announcement of her arranged marriage.
204 34 "Like Father Like Son" Raymond Quint Bill Garner 7 October 1998
Ben's investigation of some farm thefts gets him involved in a bitter family feud.
205 35 "Birds of Prey" Chris Langman David Marsh 14 October 1998
Maggie and P.J. come to the aid of Chris when a con artist threatens to destroy the Imperial.
206 36 "Mates Rates" Richard Sarell Beverly Evans 21 October 1998
Adam foolishly buys a sporty, second-hand car. Little to his knowledge at this point does he know that his beloved new car is actually a rebirth and is, in other words, stolen.
207 37 "Wedding Blues" Karl Steinberg David Boutland 28 October 1998

A parking inspector goes missing; a wedding celebrant seems to be up to something fishing; and, Nick and Zoe are married. Following their small, and somewhat nail-biting, wedding, they both leave Mount Thomas to go to the city to start their new lives together.

Final Appearance of Sergeant Nicholas Schultz
208 38 "All in the Family" Raymond Quint Ysabelle Dean 4 November 1998
Ben clashes with Tom when he finds himself championing the cause of Maureen Ritchie and her 3 foster children.
209 39 "Hunted" Chris Langman Jenny Lewis 11 November 1998
Maggie's brother Robbie, after escaping from custody, finds Maggie and assaults her at her home. After this, the Heelers believe it would be best for Maggie to look after the Widgeree Police Station while the popular boating festival is on. Upon arriving at Widgeree, Maggie finds a woman that has been bashed, she goes inside to find help but instead finds a man holding a young boy hostage. Maggie, having her gun stolen, escapes with the boy and they're chased by the man. They both escape into the bush, with the help of Robbie, while the Heelers back at Mount Thomas are becoming worried about where Maggie could be.
210 40 "Rotten Apple (1)" Fiona Banks Mary McCormick 18 November 1998
While Dash awaits her final cancer results, she becomes drawn into a case involving one of her old and trusted schoolteachers. Dash and Adam worry about their jobs and the upcoming doctor's appointment and they find comfort in each other's arms.
211 41 "Rotten Apple (2)" Richard Sarell Rachel Lewis 25 November 1998

Tom discovers the truth about Adam's new car and dismisses him from the police force immediately while Adam leaves Mount Thomas, not before taking his revenge on Tom by giving him a shiny black eye.

Final Appearance of Constable Adam Cooper


DVD release

The Complete Fifth Season: Part 1
Set Details Special Features
  • 24 Episodes (1080 Mins.)
  • Episodes 140–163
  • 6-Disc Set
  • Full Frame
  • English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
  • Slipcase Packaging
  • Photo Gallery
Release Dates
Australia
8 June 2006
The Complete Fifth Season: Part 2
Set Details Special Features
  • 18 Episodes (810 Mins.)
  • Episodes 164–181
  • 5-Disc Set
  • Full Frame
  • English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
  • Slipcase Packaging
  • Photo Gallery (10 Pics)
Release Dates
Australia
8 June 2006
The Complete Fifth Season
Set Details Special Features
  • 42 Episodes (1890 Mins.)
  • Episodes 140–181
  • 11-Disc Set
  • Full Frame
  • English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
  • Slipcase Packaging
  • Photo Gallery
Release Dates
Australia
8 June 2006