When Claire and Alex hit the big smoke, a long lost father is found, and a hidden passion is finally ignited.

Tess's upcoming operation has thoughts of mortality creeping in so she begins to write a letter to Charlotte so that her niece can know her should Tess no longer be around. Claire reminiscences when an old friend turns up unexpectedly.

Tragedy befalls Drover's Run, in the wake of celebration, as the lives of all connected with Drover's are turned upside down.

Claire's death has everyone is dealing with it in their own way. Tess tries to keep her emotions in check, unable to deal with her grief and burdened by survivor's guilt. A surprise visitor at Drovers Run helps Tess when she needs it most.

Meg returns for Jodi's funeral with a shocking secret. Meanwhile, Kate investigates the murders of Jodi & Matt; Alex tries to prove how much he loves Stevie; Regan is surprised by what was left to her in Jodi's will.

Has Sandra overstepped the mark with Harry? Tess's biopsy brings unexpected consequences. And, who's Jodi's secret admirer?

Jodi is forced to make a terrifying decision after Matt learns he is going back into witness protection. Meanwhile, Marcus and Alex compete for Stevie; Kate returns to Drovers Run for a funeral.

A thirtieth wedding anniversary is no protection for Liz when Harry, suspicious about Claire's baby, discovers an even bigger lie. Liz is preparing for her thirtieth wedding anniversary lunch, and Harry, still very much in love, has given her a beautiful strand of pearls. But it soon all starts unravelling. Brick's sister arrives and is unhappy at the thought of Becky moving on. Becky assures her she hasn't forgotten about him, but notes she's still into Jake.

With Claire and Alex still in Melbourne with Charlotte, enjoying their new found love, Tess tries to deal with a pressing health matter alone.

Nick and Tess approach the altar at last, but there's family heartache to endure before any glimpse of a gold ring and a future together.

Claire is finally released from hospital and driven home by 'father-to-be' Alex. Her first day back does not go as smoothly as the doctor would have intended and Claire realises that some things may have to change. She must also contend with the effects of the lie about Alex being the baby's father.

Becky's search for Brick comes to an end while Jodi's dream of a big wedding causes tension.

Min Min lights are seen by Claire and Tess over Drover's. Tess is determined to believe they are a good omen, but Claire, restless and uneasy in the last stages of pregnancy, insists they're natural phenomena but trouble awaits.

Tess's birthday forces her to take a long, hard look at herself, but she ""sees"" more than she bargained for and unwittingly creates some midsummer night's madness.

Jodi is happy until her conflicted feelings for returned Rob (now going by his real name of Matt) and Riley rise to the surface. Meanwhile, Tayler is still at Drovers and getting into more trouble and Regan tries her best to reach out to her. Stevie finds that her her relationship with Alex may be changing for the better.

Jodi has her hands full with a major decision when both Riley and Matt declare their love for her. Meanwhile, Stevie may risk losing Alex when helps out Marcus with a cattle deal; Jodi spends the night in the national park with Matt, when her horse is bitten by a snake.

On Alex and Stevie's long-awaited wedding day, things will run smoothly if the groom is able to get out of jail. Meanwhile, Alex's sister Ashleigh attempts to ruin the wedding and take over Killarney; Stevie's wedding day may futher be ruined by Grace's stubborn pride and by Rose's pre-wedding makeover.

A good sale at the sheep sales and the girls are ready to celebrate. A night at the pub, a bit of Karaoke perhaps, all the signs of a great ""Girls Night Out"". But things don't go as planned when it is revealed that the new barmaid, Kimmy, has been copping the same abuse Becky fell victim to at the hands of Brian. Resolving that something must be done and it must be done without Claire's knowledge, the decision is made to wait until closing and see if they can catch Brian fair and square.

An incident with a prized stallion leads to intrigue regarding Jake's past, while he and Becky get closer. Alex and Meg must contend with an emotional Claire and there's a change in Meg's domestic situation.

The Young Farmer of the Year contest comes to Drovers Run, bringing difficult choices for both Claire and Becky about the men they love. Drovers Run hosts the Regional Young Farmer of the Year Award, and Becky is surprised to learn that Jake has entered. He tells her he's going to win her back. They compete neck and neck and slowly Becky is won over by his persistence and charm and the old spark between them returns. When Jake asks her to come and live with him on the property he's leased, Becky is truly torn between the man she loves and Drovers Run...

Jodi battles with what seems like the biggest decision of her life after Kate Manfredi marches into Drovers Run, while Sandra's pregnancy causes more sorrow than joy.

Tess's plans to propose to Nick go haywire when Dave makes a discovery that threatens to derail the proposal permanently.

The sudden death of local farmer Max Martin alarms Harry, prompting inner fears of his own mortality, and a sudden outward drive to defy whatever fate may have in store by pursuing instant and rapid expansion of his property. Meanwhile Claire and Tess come across an accident involving one of their own with dramatic consequences for the Ryans.

Tess is obsessed with her new psychology theory - the three levels of why. Armed with one of her mother's old psychology textbooks she figures if she can real reason for people's actions, then everything will be sorted. But all the psychology in the world can't explain why Alex isn't as romantic as she would like him to be, why Becky and Jodi are at each other's throats, or why Loverboy - the bull Claire sells to Nick - keeps breaking out of Nick's yards and returning to Drovers Run.

After a grubby day mustering cattle, Tess is thrilled to see two friends turn up unannounced at the homestead. Simon (Murray Bartlett) and Briony (Alexandra Davies) are her best mates from TAFE. She hasn't seen them for yonks. They're fun, they're charming, they've brought their own food. And while they're still hugging hello they drop their bombshell. They've got a lease on the cafe they all dreamed about and they want Tess to come back to the city with them ASAP.