Thinking about Home and Away takes me back. Back to when I wore white ankle socks over grey tights to school and played ‘elastics’ (does anyone else remember this game?) It was the early 1990s and together with other Aussie import Neighbours, my television viewing between 5.10 and 6pm was all sewn up. Home and Away produced many young, tear away female characters from Angel to Emma Jackson (as played by X Factor judge Dannii Minogue) but there was always one good girl, namely Sally Fletcher. Now sadly, actress Kate Ritchie has announced plans to leave the soap after twenty years and is venturing forth onto pastures new.

Kate, who joined the soap back in 1988 and has picked up some awards during her long-running stint, will continue working on the show until the end of the year with her final scenes set to shoot in December. In a statement by the Seven Network, Richie said: "I have been blessed with a job that I have loved for the past 20 years and I wouldn't take back one moment of my time on Home and Away but I feel that it is time for change. My decision to leave the show has not been made lightly and despite being sad to say goodbye I am excitedly looking forward to what will be the next chapter of my life."

The Seven Network is similarly teary-eyed at the prospect of saying a final goodbye, with their director of programming, Tim Worner commenting: "She's a great girl and she deserves it. Seven is very proud of all that Kate has achieved in her time with us. It's been an amazing ride and it's been a great joy to see her grow as a performer and a person over that time. It almost feels like she's moving out of home so from that angle there is some sorrow but we are also genuinely excited for her as well."

Squeezed in around her Home and Away commitments, Kate starred in a TV movie and a reality show but will be hoping to make a more considerable mark with her next career move. Good luck Kate – I might not have watched Home and Away since I started at big school, but all the best for life after Summer Bay.

[via The Sydney Morning Herald]