The episodes that followed this tragedy , during which the family attempted to come to terms with her death, were among the most poignant and well-crafted in the show's history.
The central female lead was left to Ilona Rodgers as Kate Meredith. Widow Kate and her daughter Sally (often away at boarding school) lodged with Mrs Jessup and was the Sullivan's housekeeper while Grace was away. Wisely, scriptwriters made no attempt for Kate to take Grace's place in the bedroom (only the kitchen!), and Dave remained unattached for the rest of the show's run, except for a brief, aborted engagement to Elizabeth Bradley.
Despite the often gentle nature of the soap, it did not shy from big issues. However, rather than sensationalise, it handled these issues in a sensitive way. Problems that the characters had to face included death, divorce, miscarriage, adultery, alcoholism and gambling addiction (and that was just Alice Sullivan!). Dave Sullivan was not the only character to be widowed; Norm Baker's Greek wife was executed by Nazi soldiers, Harry's first wife Rose drowned, and Kitty's husband Robbie committed suicide after witnessing the effects of the bombing of Hiroshima.
In the past thirty years, The Sullivans has been sold to over 30 countries, from India to the UK. In the UK it became the longest running and most successful overseas daytime serial, running at lunchtime on most ITV network stations for over a decade.
The show did struggle in its final years. With the war over, and many of the original cast gone, it was in danger of losing its focus. New additions to the Sullivan clan, in the form of Dave's sister-in-law and her family, kept things going for a little longer, but the show had passed its peak. However, of all the classic Aussie soaps, this was probably the one that ended its run with its original themes and principles most intact.
Click here for a list of main cast members
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