Libby Kennedy-Fitzgerald

Elizabeth Grace 'Libby' Kirk (nee Kennedy) was a character in the Australian soap Neighbours, and was played by Kym Valentine. She first appeared from 1994 until 2003, and returned for several months until leaving for good in 2004. Libby made a cameo in Annalise Hartman's 20th Anniversary documentary in 2005.

Early Life
Libby was the second child of Karl and Susan Kennedy, and their only daughter. As a teenager, Libby was always bright and clever, and involved herself in her grandfather's communist beliefs, much to the dislike of Karl. Libby always resented her father for moving the family to Erinsborough without even telling them.

Libby quickly made friends with Brett Stark, after he promptly helped Libby move furniture into their new house, which resulted in him putting the arm of a chair through the wall. Although Brett had feelings for Libby, he never acted upon them.

Her first part time job was at Philip Martin's newsagents, which she pursued even after she was threatened by a robber. Despite Karl warning her not to continue, she carried on working there until she was offered a part-time cadetship at the Erinsborough News.

Growing Up
Libby instantly had a crush on the new boy next door, Luke Handley, to whom she shared her first kiss with. Karl accused Libby of getting sexually involved with Luke, having found photos that he thought were of Luke's bum. Libby explained that they were just photos of Luke flexing his arms, and Karl apologised for suspecting her. However Luke and Libby were developing more and more feelings for each other, and after they kissed, Libby confessed to her parents about her feelings for Luke. Karl immediatly grounded her and hatched a plan, along with Susan, to allow Luke to shower Libby with attention in the hope that she'd get bored with him. Unfortunatly, Libby realised and told Luke they could only ever be friends and refused to speak to him. However, the two agreed to stay friends after Luke wrote her a letter explained how upset he was about the way things had turned out between them, and how deeply he cared for her.

Ben's Birth
Libby was with Drew in Oakey at a Rodeo when she got locked inside a barn. It was here that she went into labour. She had a portable phone with her, but the reception at her location was terrible, and it took a while for people to find her. When she was finally air-lifted to hospital, she gave birth to Ben Ian Kennedy Kirk before going into cardiac arrest. Though her rhythm was asystole according to the ECG reading, the obstetrician defibrillated Libby, perhaps for the drama effect. After a few shocks, Libby was back in sinus rhythm and left hospital in a few days.

Taj Coppin
When she was working as a media studies teacher at Erinsborough High, Libby met Year 12 student Taj Coppin. She offered him a lot of help with his project, and eventually offered to tutor him, but she was unaware that he was falling in love with her. Libby realised that Taj was attracted to her when he invited her to the cinema and sent her a bouquet of flowers. She decided not to speak to him about the situation because she thought it was a schoolboy crush that would go away, but mainly because she herself was falling for a doctor that worked at her father Karl's surgery, Cameron Hodder. The relationship did not last long, ending when Libby discovered that Cameron had no interest in children, including Libby's son Ben and his own. After they broke up, Taj made a move on Libby, kissing her while they were in school. Libby told Taj not to do anything like this again, but she later wondered if she had feelings for him. After Taj's 18th birthday, he was even more persistent in trying to pursue Libby, but nothing serious happened until after the sudden death of Dee Bliss. Upset on the day at what had happened, Libby spent most of the afternoon in a pub, where Taj later met her. After telling Taj about how she felt, he walked her to her house, but she felt unable to go inside. Taj then invited Libby to his house, and assured her that he meant it in a platonic sense. Libby accepted the offer, and they later had sex. The following morning, Libby regretted what had happened, and told Susan, who was horrified; and Karl, who was more understanding. Because of what had happened, Taj thought Libby was serious about wanting a relationship, and went as far as going to her house to speak to her about it. The conversation that was had at Libby's house was overheard by Boyd Hoyland and his friend Daniel, who informed the rest of Erinsborough High. Unable to face going back to school after this, Libby retreated to a cabin in the mountains for a few days. Libby tried to call Susan and Karl, but only Karl would respond, going up to the cabin to give his support. Taj also went, but did not speak to Libby, seeing from a distance that she was with Ben, and realising that a relationship between himself and her was not possible. He left Libby a note explaining how he felt, and returned to Erinsborough.

Family

 * Grace Smith (grandmother) (deceased)
 * Susan Smith (mother), married to Karl Kennedy (father) and Alex Kinski (deceased)
 * Malcolm Kennedy (brother), married to Catherine O'Brien
 * Libby Kennedy, married to Drew Kirk (deceased).
 * Ben Kirk (son)
 * Billy Kennedy (brother)
 * Un-named child with Anne Wilkinson (nephew/niece)
 * Katya Kinski (stepsister)
 * Rachel Kinski (stepsister)
 * Zeke Kinski (stepbrother)
 * Carmel Smith (aunt), married to Robert Tyler
 * Darcy Tyler (cousin)
 * Liz Smith (aunt), married to Ian Conway
 * Elly Conway (cousin)