Donald Fisher (Home and Away)

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Donald Fisher
First appearance	Pilot
Last appearance	4000
Information
Gender	Male
Family	Isobel Du Pre (mother) (deceased) Mary Croft (sister)
Relationships	Barbara Stewart (divorced) Marilyn Fisher (divorced)
Children	Rebecca Nash Alan Fisher (deceased) Bobby Marshall (deceased) Byron Fisher (deceased)
Relatives	Sam Marshall (adoptive grandson), Seb Miller (grandson) David Croft (nephew, deceased) Lucinda Croft (niece) Tamara Simpson (great niece)
Portrayed by	Norman Coburn

Donald "Don" or "Flathead" Fisher was a fictional character on the Australian television soap opera series Home & Away. The character was played by actor Norman Coburn.

[edit] About Donald

Donald Fisher or simply known by his surname was the local high school principal. Donald was known for his harsh treatment of people. 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 one night-stand between Donald and his then sister-in-law Morag Bellingham. Morag subsequently had Bobby adopted to 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 Parris, 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 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 is his new carers.

Marilyn fell pregnant in 1998 and gave birth to a son, Byron Vincent, who was named after Vinnie Patterson who sped through traffic to get Marilyn to hospital. Marily 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 humurous 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. 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.

[edit] Family Tree

Isobel DuPre (mother, deceased)
- Donald Fisher, married to Barbara Stewart and Marilyn Chambers, had a one-night stand with Morag Bellingham,
  - Alan Fisher (son, deceased), had a relationship with Anna Miller (deceased)
    - Sebastian Miller (grandson)
  - Rebecca Fisher (daughter), married to Travis Nash
    - Unnamed Grandchild
  - Bobby Simpson (daughter, deceased), married to Greg Marshall
    - Sam Marshall (adoptive grandson)
  - Byron Fisher (son, deceased)
- Mary Croft (sister)
  - David Croft (nephew), had a relationship with Sophie Simpson
    - Tamara Simpson (great niece)
  - Lucinda Croft (niece)