Cassie Turner

Cassandra "Cassie" Turner was a fictional character on the Australian television soap opera Home and Away, played by Sharni Vinson between 2005 and 2008.

Character's background
Cassie first hit the screen when she arrived on the beach riding a jet-ski where she met Ric. She created an air of mystery and it transpired that she actually stolen it and they had to escape an angry owner. The next day she again met Ric and they went skinny-dipping where she stole Ric's clothes, causing him to ride home naked.

Cassie was formally introduced to Ric at a fair in the run up to Miss Groper where her grandmother, Joy Foxton managed to lower the age limit to 15 so that Cassie could enter. Alas, she didn't win and the day went from bad to worse when Joy collapsed after the event whilst arguing with Colleen.

Cassie clung to the hope that her grandmother would wake up, but there was no hope so, Joy's son, Cassie's uncle was called in. Cassie started having flashbacks to when she was younger when her uncle had been abusing her. She wasn't going to say anything until she worked out the her uncle had moved onto Cassie's niece and she then reported him to the police. With no family left, Sally and Flynn decided to take Cassie into their home.

There was some sexual tension between Ric and Cassie and it was inevitable that they would get together. However, as promised, they immediately let Sally and Flynn know of the changed situation. However, when Ric got close to Cassie, she began to freak out because of reminders of what her uncle had done to her and they broke up after a few months together.

Cassie then started dating Aden Jefferies, who Ric became extremely jealous of and this caused trouble at school. However when Cassie discovered that Aden's brother Sean had attacked Ric, she dumped Aden who was never heard of again (until two years later) and Cassie got back with Ric at some time later. They were both however dealt a sad blow when it was discovered that their foster father, Flynn, was suffering from terminal cancer and early in the new year, Flynn died.

Before Flynn died, however, overhearing a conversation between Sally and Flynn about Flynn wanting to hasten his death, Cassie had hid out in a caravan during a cyclone upon which an electricity cable fell upon trapping both her and Ric inside. In trying to free them from the caravan both Sally and Flynn had received electric shocks themselves.

Matilda and Cassie have the strongest friendship in history of show.

Cassie then became threatened when Belle Taylor arrived in the bay and, unable to trust Ric, they soon split up after which she hooked up with Martha's adoptive brother, Macca. There was initially problems with Macca's job involving travelling and unsociable hours, and the tablets he was taking often led him to be moody and short tempered. Things came to a head when Macca moved into Alf's flat and after a couple of disagreements he hit Cassie.

Cassie however still saw some good in Macca and they left on better terms, with Macca agreeing to get help for his problems, but Cassie got back together with Ric who had since split up with Belle. However Belle was still after Ric, and teaming up with Drew, she got Cassie to give Drew some extra tuition, while she tried to get back together with Ric at the party. The plan failed. Ric was then offered a mechanical course in the city and he and Cassie kept in touch, when Macca returned having recuperated.

Initially Cassie tried to tell Macca it was over and that she was with Ric, but her feelings for Macca were too strong and they ended up together, without Cassie having told Ric that she wanted to break up. True to form, Ric decided to pay Cassie a visit while Cassie was kissing Macca on the couch and it all blew up. Cassie was forced out of Summer Bay House and she moved in with Irene, now unable to live in the same house as Ric. She also lost all of her friends, including Matilda, and was constantly subjected to teasing at school following the exposure of her affair.

When Ric got together with Matilda, his hurt eased. When Macca got a job in the city he asked Cassie to move there with him and though reluctant, she agreed, knowing she had no true friends left. Though happy in the city she admitted she was lonely and returned to the Bay as often as she could under the guise of being with her family during Ric's imprisonment. Her continued absences and lies angered Macca and he lashed out at her once more. Cassie moved back to the Bay and Macca handed himself into the police for assaulting her.

With her recent experiences of abuse Cassie became obsessed with the idea of setting up a helpline in Summer Bay. With Brad offering a room at the school and Dan willing to act as a counsellor, Cassie began fundraising, convincing the boys of Summer Bay to strip nude for a calendar. With the money raised the helpline was set up only to receive no calls bar one prank on the first day of running. As a disappointed Cassie locked up alone, she answered the phone to a clearly frightened girl. Unable to convince her to call back in hours or speak to a professional, Cassie gave the girl her mobile number and offered to meet her. Telling Dan the truth about what she had done Cassie met the girl, Lily Nelson only for her to be scared off when Dan arrived.

She later made contact with Cassie again and Cassie won her trust, finding out that Lily was being abused by her boyfriend Kyle. Using her own experiences, Cassie managed to convince Lily to leave Kyle and pretending that she was her friend from the city Ruby, Lily moved into the Caravan Park House. They were found out though when Lily's mother arrived and announced that Lily was always lying and Sally and Brad had no choice but to let Lily go. Cassie remained convinced that her new friend was in danger and went to visit her with Matilda only for Kyle to come home. With Matilda running for help, Cassie and Lily locked themselves in a room but Kyle broke through just as Brad, Ric and Sally arrived to save the day.

Lily moved back into the Caravan Park House where Cassie seemed to develop almost an obsession with her. When Drew's friend Jules Munro arrived in town, Cassie continually warned Lily off, believing he was bad news. When Lily nearly drowned trying to save Matilda and Jules did nothing to help it seemed Cassie's fears were confirmed but Lily, recovering in hospital, told Cassie to give him a chance before leaving the Bay.

Cassie and Jules continued their love-hate relationship with each other before eventually admitting they were attracted to each other. Things never seemed to go according to plan though. Managing to sweet talk Cassie into stealing Brad's car with the promise of a driving lesson, Jules then sabotaged the car in a successful attempt to get Cassie to himself. Their romantic moment was spoiled though with the arrival of Alf Stewart and Cassie was grounded for a week.

Later, Cassie became involved with Henk Van Minnen, who was Brad's best friend in high school. It was later revealed that Henk had raped Rachel some number of years ago. Despite learning this, Cassie was still determined to see him, although everyone in the bay, especially Rachel, warned her about him.

In 2008, Cassie discovered she was pregnant with Henk's baby. After telling him of her pregnancy they happily get engaged but unbeknownst to Cassie Henk has discovered that he has HIV, and may have infected her.

Cassie was called to the hospital for the results of her blood test and was shocked to find out she is HIV positive, running out of the building to be hit by a car. Later, Matilda, Ric, Belle and Drew overheard Cassie yelling at Henk to get out of her hospital room for not telling her about him being HIV positive, and she made them swear not to tell anyone, especially not Sally.

Henk left, although he later returned to support Cassie during her pregnancy and her illness. He asked her for a second chance, but even though she loved him, Cassie explained that she didn't believe in fairytale romances any more. Henk agreed to walk away, though he will still be a part of the unborn child's life. Alf has told Cassie that she is like a granddaughter to him.

As Cassie had no knowledge of HIV prior to being diagnosed, she felt that it would be useful to inform current year 12 students of her status, as she has experienced it herself and would like her fellow peers to be aware of the condition. While giving her speech it came to the attention of Aden Jefferies that Cassie may have infected him with HIV by blood to blood contact during the aftermath of the car crash earlier. He left the classroom in shock, telling a shocked Cassie to back off.

Cassie left the Bay a few weeks later. She was meant to leave with Sally and Pippa but on the advice of Ric, she first went on a road trip with Matilda, promising to catch up with Sally soon after.