# Blue Heelers season 4

The fourth season of the Australian police-drama Blue Heelers premiered on the Seven Network on 10 February 1997 and aired on Tuesday nights at 8:30 PM. The 42-episode season concluded 25 November 1997. The main cast was the same as the previous season, except without Grant Bowler as Constable Wayne Patterson. Like previous seasons, the fourth season was released on DVD as a two part set and as a complete set, both on 6 April 2006.

## Casting

In the episode, "Fool For Love", Jane Allsop guest starred. She impressed the producers so much that they would later invite her back to the show in a main role as Jo Parrish.

### Main

* John Wood as Sergeant Tom Croydon
* Julie Nihill as Christine 'Chris' Riley
* Martin Sacks as Senior Detective Patrick Joseph 'P.J.' Hasham
* Lisa McCune as Constable Margaret 'Maggie' Doyle
* William McInnes as Senior Constable Nicholas 'Nick' Schultz
* Damian Walshe-Howling as Constable Adam Cooper
* Tasma Walton as Probationary Constable Deirdre 'Dash' McKinley

### Recurring

* Peta Doodson as Senior Sergeant → Inspector Monica Draper
* Beth Buchanan as Susan Croydon
* Michael Isaacs as Clancy Freeman
* Axl Taylor as Len the barman
* Dennis Miller as Ex-Sergeant Pat Doyle
* Jeremy Kewley as Tony Timms
* Reg Evans as Keith Purvis
* Terry Gill as Chief Superintendent Clive Adamson
* Karen Davitt as Doctor Zoe Hamilton
* Rachel Blakely as Gina Belfanti
* Don Bridges as Charlie Clarke
* Marie Trevor as Lelia Clegg
* Pauline Terry-Bietz as Beth McKinley
* Neil Pigot as Inspector Russell Falcon-Price
* Adam May as Ellis Corby
* Peter Aanensen as Merv Poole
* Kevin Harrington as Charlie McKinley
* Kate Atkinson as Stacey Norse
* Stuart Baker as "Richo"

### Guest stars

* Anne Phelan
* Stefan Dennis
* Vincent Gil
* Alan Dale
* Peta Brady
* Brett Climo
* Wendy Strehlow
* Fiona Corke
* Lesley Baker

## Reception

The 1997 season was the highest rated for the show, and was the number one show on Australian television for that year, averaging 2,441,000 viewers in the five cities for the year.
Two of the most popular episodes remain the two-parter "Gold" and "Fool's Gold", in which PJ and Maggie are trapped down a mine shaft and release their sexual tension.

## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Australian air date |
| 129 | 1 | "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" | Richard Sarell | Ysabelle Dean | 10 February 1997 (1997-02-10) |
| The inhabitants of Mount Thomas have a suspected outbreak of "Mad Cow Disease" and people do not seem to be coping, especially when they suspect it was Mad Cow Disease that tragically killed Gina and threatens to take Maggie's life. ||||||
| 130 | 2 | "Under Siege" | Chris Langman | Susan Hore | 10 February 1997 (1997-02-10) |
| Nick, having been left in charge of the station, is trapped in the station with Adam and Dash with no way of outside contact while P.J is desperately searching for a way to save Maggie's life and to find the cause of her mystery illness. ||||||
| 131 | 3 | "Working Lunch" | Kevin Carlin | Bill Garner | 11 February 1997 (1997-02-11) |
| An extortionist threatens to blow up Bluey's Indian restaurant and a bullet hole is found in Katrina Hagen's window where she works with Shire President Roger Payne. Meanwhile, Dash's love of gossip threatens to get her into hot water on a surveillance operation. ||||||
| 132 | 4 | "Immaculate Misconception" | Grant Brown | John Wood | 18 February 1997 (1997-02-18) |
| Clancy is accused of rape which he happily admits to. Leonie says she doesn't feel well and is taken to the doctor to be told she is pregnant. Tom has to contend with Chris' emotional cousin Domenic and Adam declares his feelings for Dash but doesn't get the response he hoped for. ||||||
| 133 | 5 | "Reports of Damage and Loss" | Richard Sarell | John Banas | 25 February 1997 (1997-02-25) |
| The weather is terrible, it is pouring rain and Mount Thomas are suffering thunderstorms they have rarely seen, nobody would want to be outside in this weather; unfortunately there are children out and Nick and Adam are sent to save them. But, when Nick and Adam arrive back at the station hours later to fill out a Report of Damage and Loss, they are cold, soaking wet and both have broken spirits. ||||||
| 134 | 6 | "Fowl Play" | Chris Langman | Peter Dick | 4 March 1997 (1997-03-04) |
| Nick is astonished to find the shooter of a young protester is Zoe Hamilton. Ken Norse accuses Matthew Prentice of stealing one of his ducks. Norse later falls seriously ill after eating a specially prepared duck at the Imperial. Lead poisoning is the result and his two children become the main suspects and admit to hating him but not killing him. ||||||
| 135 | 7 | "The Luck of the Irish" | Kevin Carlin | Cassandra Carter | 11 March 1997 (1997-03-11) |
| Chris' new love Sean is found murdered in the cemetery. and Tom finds there is no record of him or his teenage son Conor entering Australia. ||||||
| 136 | 8 | "Bloodstained Angels" | Grant Brown | David Phillips | 18 March 1997 (1997-03-18) |
| The Heelers must determine whether they are looking for a publicity stunt, an avenging father or an adoring fan after one of the station's vehicles is defaced, and a car is torched in the car park of the Commercial when a heavy metal band arrives in Mount Thomas. ||||||
| 137 | 9 | "Charity Begins at Home" | Richard Sarell | Annie Beach | 8 April 1997 (1997-04-08) |
| Joanne Mason accuses her husband of deliberately pushing her out of their car. Dash moves in with Maggie, and throws out Maggie's favourite jumper by mistake. Mrs Mason moves in with Dash and Maggie. Clothes are stolen from a Salvation Army bin and money and the clothes are found in Capt. Ingrid Perry's Possession who is targeted for attempted murder. ||||||
| 138 | 10 | "Fool for Love" | Richard Jasek | Emma Honey | 15 April 1997 (1997-04-15) |
| Adam has a surprise announcement, but a crisis involving a phony dating agency nearly overshadows his special day. Adam and Stacey wed. ||||||
| 139 | 11 | "There Last Night" | Raymond Quint | David Boutland | 22 April 1997 (1997-04-22) |
| Tom becomes personally involved in the lives of a Vietnam veteran and his son, with tragic consequences. ||||||
| 140 | 12 | "Gold" | Chris Langman | Ysabelle Dean | 29 April 1997 (1997-04-29) |
| Maggie and P.J, in one of Blue Heelers' most popular episodes, find themselves trapped underground in a collapsed mineshaft and find themselves thinking, 'Will we make it out alive?' ||||||
| 141 | 13 | "Fool's Gold" | Gary Conway | Tony Morphett | 6 May 1997 (1997-05-06) |
| The question of whether Maggie and P.J will make it out alive plagues Mount Thomas. ||||||
| 142 | 14 | "Grave Matters" | Kevin Carlin | David Allen | 13 May 1997 (1997-05-13) |
| Tom struggles with confronting relationships from the past, present, and future when the headstone of late wife, Nell, is vandalised. ||||||
| 143 | 15 | "Loose Cannons" | Steve Mann | David Marsh | 20 May 1997 (1997-05-20) |
| Tom and Nick fall out when a professional shooter attempts to reconcile with his wife leads to a violent confrontation. ||||||
| 144 | 16 | "Lean on Me" | Gary Conway | Kathie Armstrong | 27 May 1997 (1997-05-27) |
| Amphetamines are being home-made in Mount Thomas – with tragic consequences. ||||||
| 145 | 17 | "Random Breath" | Chris Langman | Susan Hore | 3 June 1997 (1997-06-03) |
| Dash is accused of illegally waving her new boyfriend through a breath test station and finds herself in hot water with the new inspector. ||||||
| 146 | 18 | "Close Encounters" | Kevin Carlin | Stephen Measday | 10 June 1997 (1997-06-10) |
| A baby disappears in suspicious circumstances, but only Adam believes the mother's story. ||||||
| 147 | 19 | "Buckley's Chance" | Steve Mann | Rick Held | 17 June 1997 (1997-06-17) |
| An Oz Lotto ticket goes missing and Adam's wife suffers a miscarriage. Adam finds out that the baby wasn't his. ||||||
| 148 | 20 | "No Means No" | Raymond Quint | Michael Winter | 24 June 1997 (1997-06-24) |
| Nick goes out on a limb to help an ex-prostitute rape victim, while Maggie and P.J suspect her of being an obsessed admirer. Inspector Monica Draper arrives to investigate complaints against Nick. ||||||
| 149 | 21 | "Poetic Justice" | Fiona Banks | Bill Garner | 1 July 1997 (1997-07-01) |
| P.J finds himself dealing with an innocent feral, a Russian barber, and a truckload of cigarettes ||||||
| 150 | 22 | "Left in Trust" | Kevin Carlin | Beverley Evans | 8 July 1997 (1997-07-08) |
| Maggie befriends a Polish woman who is looking for her missing exchange student daughter. ||||||
| 151 | 23 | "Sick Puppy" | Steve Mann | Peter Dick | 15 July 1997 (1997-07-15) |
| Tom's daughter heads into mortal danger when she befriends a suspected murderer. ||||||
| 152 | 24 | "Sisterly Love" | Fiona Banks | Jenny Lewis | 22 July 1997 (1997-07-22) |
| When P.J and Maggie can't agree over a spate of serial burglaries, lives are put in danger. Meanwhile, P.J investigates the school where Susan, Tom's daughter is working as a relief teacher. ||||||
| 153 | 25 | "Can't Take a Joke" | Grant Brown | Roger Dunn | 29 July 1997 (1997-07-29) |
| Adam's career is at risk after a violent confrontation caused by the return of Stacey's old boyfriend. ||||||
| 154 | 26 | "Every Contact Leaves Its Trace" | Graham Thorburn | Cassandra Carter | 5 August 1997 (1997-08-05) |
| A bungled suicide or attempted murder? As Adam Cooper lies near death in hospital, Dash sets out to solve the mystery. ||||||
| 155 | 27 | "Playing Games" | Chris Langman | David Allen | 12 August 1997 (1997-08-12) |
| A Murder Mystery Weekend reveals more than anyone bargained for when a property development is vandalised, Chris' life is threatened, and Maggie and P.J confront the passion that promises to draw them together. ||||||
| 156 | 28 | "Counting Chickens" | Fiona Banks | John Banas | 19 August 1997 (1997-08-19) |
| Nick and Dash find that a dispute over a chicken farm inheritance leads to more than broken eggs. ||||||
| 157 | 29 | "Drag Line" | Grant Brown | Tony Morphett | 26 August 1997 (1997-08-26) |
| Bert Cole is campaigning for a youth curfew in Mount Thomas, until he is found dead-wearing women's clothing. ||||||
| 158 | 30 | "Closing Ranks" | Steve Mann | Rick Held | 2 September 1997 (1997-09-02) |
| Nick and Zoe are held hostage at the hospital by a bereaved father after a baby dies under suspicious circumstances. ||||||
| 159 | 31 | "Off the Air" | Peter Sharp | David Marsh | 9 September 1997 (1997-09-09) |
| Tom is forced to step in when a talkback radio announcer creates hysteria over a supposed crime wave. ||||||
| 160 | 32 | "The Scarecrow" | Russell Burton | David Boutland | 16 September 1997 (1997-09-16) |
| When Maggie makes an enemy of an infamous local farmer, Dash's nightmares are realised. Maggie's brother, Robbie, returns. ||||||
| 161 | 33 | "Safe as Houses" | Richard Sarell | Craig Wilkins | 23 September 1997 (1997-09-23) |
| Dash thinks her sympathy may have been misplaced after she organises assistance for friends evicted from their farm by the bank. ||||||
| 162 | 34 | "Our Patch" | Fiona Banks | Anthony Ellis | 30 September 1997 (1997-09-30) |
| Tom looks like he is going soft when he protects a bunch of drunken louts harassing Chris at the pub. ||||||
| 163 | 35 | "The All Seeing Eye" | Raymond Quint | Cassandra Carter | 7 October 1997 (1997-10-07) |
| Maggie and P.J. solve a two-year-old kidnapping case – with a little help from a witch and a gypsy. Maggie discovers her brother, Robbie, is still using drugs. ||||||
| 164 | 36 | "Playing Possum" | Russel Burton | David Allen and Judith Colquoun | 14 October 1997 (1997-10-14) |
| When Maggie helps her brother Robbie kick his heroin addiction, her work and relationships suffer. Could Maggie really be shifting evidence? She calls her father Pat for help. ||||||
| 165 | 37 | "Collateral Damage" | Karl Steinberg | Bill Garner | 21 October 1997 (1997-10-21) |
| The Heelers attempts to bust the drug trade in Mount Thomas are complicated. ||||||
| 166 | 38 | "The Big Picture" | Richard Sarell | Russell Winter | 28 October 1997 (1997-10-28) |
| P.J. is determined to prove that Maggie has not been leaking information to drug dealers. ||||||
| 167 | 39 | "Settlement Postponed" | Richard Jasek | Tony Morphett | 4 November 1997 (1997-11-04) |
| The Heelers are on the trail of an illegal SP bookie and Nick feels responsible when the main suspect goes missing. ||||||
| 168 | 40 | "Containing the Rage" | Karl Steinberg | Paul Davies | 11 November 1997 (1997-11-11) |
| Dash realises a friend of hers has an anger management problem and this is a girl with a past and with a truck load of secrets. ||||||
| 169 | 41 | "The Civil Dead" | Raymond Quint | Susan Hore | 18 November 1997 (1997-11-18) |
| P.J's past comes back to haunt him when Luke Darcy's trial is deferred and he ends up back on the street. ||||||
| 170 | 42 | "Possession" | Russell Burton | David Boutland | 25 November 1997 (1997-11-25) |
| Maggie is tempted to suppress evidence that Robbie was involved in the theft of some paintings and she and P.J finally get together. Maggie makes the heartbreaking choice to turn her brother in. ||||||

## DVD release

The Complete Fourth Season: Part 1 :
| | Set Details | Set Details | Set Details | Special Features |
| | 23 Episodes (1035 Mins.) 6-Disc Set Episodes 97 – 119 Full Frame English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) | 23 Episodes (1035 Mins.) 6-Disc Set Episodes 97 – 119 Full Frame English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) | 23 Episodes (1035 Mins.) 6-Disc Set Episodes 97 – 119 Full Frame English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) | Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery (17 Pics) |
| Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery (17 Pics) |||
| | Australia | | | Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery (17 Pics) |
| | 6 April 2006 | | | Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery (17 Pics) |
The Complete Fourth Season: Part 2 :
| | Set Details | Set Details | Set Details | Special Features |
| | 20 Episodes (900 Mins.) Episodes 120 – 139 5-Disc Set Full Frame English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) | 20 Episodes (900 Mins.) Episodes 120 – 139 5-Disc Set Full Frame English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) | 20 Episodes (900 Mins.) Episodes 120 – 139 5-Disc Set Full Frame English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) | Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery |
| Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery |||
| | Australia | | | Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery |
| | 6 April 2006 | | | Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery |
The Complete Fourth Season :
| Set Details | Set Details | Set Details | Special Features |
| 43 Episodes (1935 Mins.) 11-Disc Set Episodes 97 – 139 Full Frame English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) | 43 Episodes (1935 Mins.) 11-Disc Set Episodes 97 – 139 Full Frame English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) | 43 Episodes (1935 Mins.) 11-Disc Set Episodes 97 – 139 Full Frame English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) | Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery |
| Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery |||
| Australia | | | Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery |
| 6 April 2006 | | | Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery |