Joe later falls for his lodger Melanie Pearson (Lucinda Cowden) and they later marry. On hearing the news that Nell had had another heart attack, Joe realizes that he and Melanie will have to sell the house to afford the medical bills. On leaving for England, Joe arranges for Toby to live with school principal Dorothy Burke (Maggie Dence), who lives next door, while they were gone. Joe, Melanie and Sky later return to Australia and send for Toby to join them in the countryside. Dorothy also lands a teaching post at Toby's new school and they leave. Several years later, Joe and Melanie divorce.