During the early part of the 1991 season, there was an exodus of several high-profile original characters; First to go was police constable Paul Berry (Warren Jones) who was sectioned after having a nervous breakdown live on Sheridan's TV show, "The 5.30 Report". Two episodes later, Ernie Patchett (Vic Rooney) disappeared and left the confused locals in charge of the pub – and then, perhaps most jarring, was the departure of the entire Fielding family when Elly (Penny Cook), David (Noel Hodda) and Claire all departed "E Street" for a new life in Bangladesh. Also bowing out was Bunney Brooke as Auntie Vi Patchett, but her room at "Patchett's Pacific" was soon taken by yet another Patchett relative when Vi sent her English cousin, Mary (Joan Sydney), to take care of things while Ernie was still away. Also arriving to take over the surgery was Virgina Travis (Julieanne Newbould), an old friend of Elly's from Melbourne, who also moved in Elly's flat.