Beth Hunter

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Elizabeth Hunter
Portrayed by Clarissa House
First appearance April 17, 2003
Episode 3489
Last appearance January 30, 2007
Episode 4342
Cause/reason Died in a car accident
Profile
Gender Female
Age 48 (at death)
Occupation Ran Noah's Bar with Tony and Alf
Title Mrs
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Elizabeth Ann "Beth" Hunter (née Walters; previously Sutherland) was a fictional character in the soap opera Home and Away, played by actress Clarissa House since early 2003 till mid 2007. She was the show's modern matriarch. Clarissa House, originally was cast as Ms.Angelo for 1 episode in 2000, as a social worker (DOCs) then later got the role as Beth.

Beth was from the country and her parents' property was remote enough for her to have a private tutor. Beth never imagined herself as anything but a farmer's wife. She married Jack Hunter before she turned eighteen and had a son, Scott (Kip Gamblin), ten months later. Four more children, Kit (Amy Mizzi), Robbie (Jason Smith), Henry (Tobi Atkins) and Matilda (Indiana Evans) followed.

For Beth, marriage and family were everything and she adored Jack, who was twelve years older than her. When Jack died, she eventually married the divorced Rhys Sutherland (Michael Beckley) and moved into the Summer Bay Caravan Park with him and the children from both their marriages. Rhys and Beth bought the caravan park from Josh West. Because money was tight, it was decided that Beth's youngest children, twins Henry and Matilda, should come out of boarding school and live in Summer Bay. A few weeks later, Rhys and Beth got married. Unfortunately, the marriage fell to pieces months later when Rhys cheated on her with his ex-wife, Shelley Sutherland (Paula Forrest), which led to a divorce and Rhys' departure later in the year. Beth later pursued a relationship with Tony, while Matilda started to date Lucas, Tony's youngest son. When his rented house was sold by the landlord, Beth suggested that as their families got along so well, Tony and the boys should move in with her. Meanwhile, Beth wasn't pleased with the romance going on between Scott and Summer Bay High's new drama teacher, Amanda Vale (Holly Brisley), who Beth thought was shady and manipulative. Although Scott eventually saw through Amanda and dumped her, Beth was shocked and livid when Amanda married her father, millionaire Graham Walters (Doug Scroope) since she thought Amanda was only marrying him for his money. Beth did not get on well with her stepmother during Graham's and Amanda's marriage and it was not helped with her father always taking his wife's side over his daughter. Beth was really devastated when Graham died of a heart attack, and realized Amanda inherited all of Graham's money, but was appeased when Amanda gave the Hunters all of Graham's medals from the Vietnam War. She then combatted with the town to stop her stepmother from progressing with Project 56 and the town eventually won, with the murder of mayor Josh West. She was originally a suspect in his murder (since her stepmother Amanda Vale was having an affair with him), as was Amanda herself and her son, Robbie. However, she was cleared when Barry Hyde was discovered to be the murderer.

Beth was horrified when two of her children, Robbie and Kit, were missing after a helicopter crash. She tried to raise the funds herself to ensure the search went on, but was delighted that Amanda, now rich after inheriting all of Graham's money, decided to fund the search. (Mind you Amanda only funded the search to get her daughter Belle Taylor back, not for Beth's or her children's sakes.) All those who were missing were eventually found alive again thanks to Amanda's maternal instincts.

In 2007, she left for an overseas trip to see her family and travel. Tony proposed to her, but she said she didn't need a ring to say that he loves her and refused. She then vowed to return home. After two months away from home, she arrived at Yabbie Creek airport and drove back to Summer Bay. But tragedy struck when Beth was involved in a head-on collison with a truck and died instantly. Her funeral was held in Adelaide with those closest to her going.

In May 2008 Tony and Matilda grieved for Beth, one year since her passing.

Many from members are saying it was mistake to kill her off she still was needed charcter on show.

[edit] Family Tree

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