Shelby Sutherland
Shelley Sutherland (née Webb) was a main character from June 2000 (Episode 2856) to August 2004 (Episode 3807). She returned in 2009, last appearing in Episode 4973. Shelley was the wife of Rhys Sutherland and was played by Paula Forrest.
Backstory[]
Shelley married her husband Rhys in 1982 and they had three daughters named Dani, Kirsty and Jade.
2000-2002, 2003[]
Shelley and Rhys moved to Summer Bay after purchasing Summer Bay House and the caravan park from Pippa Ross. Shortly after arriving Shelley began working as a counsellor at the Sarah McKay drop-in centre. One of her first cases was Brodie Hanson who had run away from home to avoid her abusive mother. Shelley took Brodie home and she was later fostered by the Sutherlands.
Shelley later supported Dani when she was raped by Kane Phillips and the case went to court. Kane was found not guilty in the ensuing court case. The following year, Shelley and Kirsty boarded a cruise ship during Summer Bay's sesquicentennial celebrations. It sank and the pair found themselves marooned on an island with Kane, who had been working on the ship. Kane saved Shelley's life on the island when she was almost attacked by a snake.
Shelley later learned that Rhys had possibly fathered Dylan Russell as a result of a one night stand with newcomer Angie Russell 20 years previously. Angie was now working at Summer Bay High School as the vice principal. Although it was later revealed that Dylan wasn't Rhys's son after all, it had inflicted a mortal blow to their marriage. Shelley moved away to the city on her own - her daughters had opted to stay put. She filed for divorce.
Shelley began a relationship with lawyer David Callahan, who represented Dani after she ran over Kane. Dani lost and was imprisoned. Worse still, her daughter Kirsty married Kane. Later, Kirsty needed a kidney transplant and Shelley was a match. Bizarrely, this sounded the death knell for Shelley and David's relationship because he had an irrational fear of scars.
In the meantime, Rhys had remarried but the marriage didn't last. Rhys moved to The City and reconciled with Shelley. They remarried in 2005
2009[]
Shelley returned to Summer Bay five years later to comfort Kirsty after she had miscarried Miles Copeland's baby. Kirsty then decided to move to The City with her mother, taking her son Oliver with her. They left without telling Miles.
Memorable info[]
First Line: "Yeah, but it doesn't smell like home."
Last Line: "Come on, sweetheart. Come with Grandma. You bring the book, OK? I'll get your bag. Off we go." (to Ollie)
Family[]
Father Geoff Webb
Mother Avril Webb
Siblings Kerry Webb
Spouse Rhys Sutherland (1982-2003) (2005- )(remarried)
Children Dani Sutherland, Kirsty Sutherland, Laura DeGroot, Jade Sutherland (adoptive)