Fondly farewelling Ramsay St

Most Australians would be familiar with the theme song of Neighbours. For almost 40 years, the soap has been entertaining audiences around the world, even developing a cult-like following in the UK. It has launched the careers of dozens of Australians with very familiar faces first finding their feet on the long-running show. Margot Robbie, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce and Liam Hemsworth are just a few of the glitterati who have graced the neighbourhood.

And millions around the world are now heartbroken that their favourite show has been axed.

UK broadcasting partner Channel 5 pulled its funding and with producer Fremantle unable to secure an alternative funder, the decision was made to “rest the show”. The final episode will be filmed in June with it due to go to air in August. Cast and crew have announced though, that Neighbours will finish on a high, and they look forward to celebrating the show until the final scene.

Throughout the years, many Jewish cast and crew have found a home on Ramsay Street.

Kylie Flinker launched the role of Lucy Robinson, appearing on the very first episode of Neighbours in March 1985. She remained in the role until 1987, when it was recast with Sasha Close taking on the part. According to an article published in 1988 in Star Magazine, Flinker impressed casting agents with an emotional scene in which she had to cry during her audition. This was despite having no prior acting experience prior to the role.

As well as Kylie, Amelia Frid, who is now a psychologist, played the role of Cody Willis in the soap when she was younger. Frid’s final appearance as Cody was in 1991 as a 16-year-old.

Lara Sacher was 16 years old when she landed the role of Serena Bishop as her first professional acting job. After her on-screen parents were axed as part of a cast shake-up, it was announced that Sacher would be departing the show with a dramatic storyline. In an article published in Digital Spy, script producer at the time Luke Devenish said that “all three Bishops will be leaving together… in one of our most startling storylines of year”.

And boy did they deliver with a fiery plane crash causing their demise.

Ros Tatarka was a production manager on Neighbours back in the day. “I was lucky enough to be the Production Manager on Neighbours when it was first commissioned by Channel 10. I don’t think any of us working on the show then would have thought that it would end up being the longest running drama series in Australian television history,” she told The AJN. “It’s incredible to think of all the stars whose careers were launched on Neighbours – both in front of the cameras and behind the scenes. Some lifelong friendships began on that show. It was hard work but so much fun.

Tatarka was even involved in choosing the iconic theme song.

“One of my favourite memories is from just before Neighbours began. I was working on Prisoner at the time and Peter Pinne, who was Head of Production for Grundy Television and responsible for setting up Neighbours came into the production office to get our thoughts on a couple of songs. He was trying to decide on the theme song for Neighbours. And yes – we picked the winner!”

It is certainly the end of an era as the world says goodbye to Ramsay St and the hundreds of cast and crew who have brought us all so many wonderfully dramatic storylines over almost 9000 episodes (and counting). It sure will leave a hole in our soapy-filled hearts.

After all, throughout the years, those good neighbours became good friends.