Life in Summer Bay can get dramatic, but sometimes it’s the real-life moments off-screen that tug at your heart. One of the show’s most iconic faces just received a flood of affection from the Home and Away cast, and fans are loving every bit of it.
Ray’s Been the Heart of the Bay for Decades
If you’ve watched Home and Away for any amount of time, you know Alf Stewart is basically part of the furniture. Ray Meagher has been playing him since day one, way back in 1988, and he’s still going strong. For a lot of the cast, Ray feels like family.
In fact, he once joked about how he’s not big on birthday fuss, especially compared to Lynne McGranger who apparently starts her celebrations a month early and keeps them going after it’s over! Ray said he’s always been the type to fly under the radar and just enjoy a quiet drink with a few mates. But when someone’s been part of your life (and ours) for 36 years, there’s no way the cast were going to let this moment pass quietly.
Ray Turns 81 and the Home and Away Cast Shows Up Big
Yep, Ray Meagher just turned 81 on July 4th, and his co-stars made sure he knew exactly how much he means to them. Emily Symons posted the sweetest birthday message on Instagram, calling him “the world’s greatest Queenslander” and her “other favourite red head.”
She thanked him for everything, from the daily laughs and coffees to being kind to her son Henry and even paying attention to her iPhone tutorials! But the part that really stood out was how she ended it by saying, “thank you for 36 years of friendship.” That’s a bond you just don’t see every day. If you’re wondering whether this birthday means Ray’s thinking of stepping away from the show, don’t panic.
He’s still got a few more years on his current contract, so Alf isn’t leaving Summer Bay anytime soon. And thank goodness for that! Home and Away just wouldn’t be the same without him. The way the cast has shown their love for Ray really just proves what a legend he is, not only on our screens but in real life too. So here’s to Ray, 81 and still the heart and soul of Home and Away. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more sweet behind-the-scenes moments and all your latest soap news!
