Made by Southern Star + Nine Network. Hal McElroy executive producer.
Series I - 1996 Series II - 1997 Series III - 1998 Series IV - 1999
A very successful police drama is the Sydney-based series Water Rats. It's about the Sydney Water Police, a special unit within the police force and like the Rescue Squad, also indispensable.
The Sydney harbor is home to the Rats. This gives us the most beautiful scenery. Main characters are Detective Rachel "Goldie" Goldstein (Catherine McClements) and Detective Frank Holloway (Colin Friels). They make a great team.
Frank is sloppy, doing it his own way type. Coming from a wharfie family, he knows his way around. Frank is a loner, a few busted marriages but finally he finds true love with another cop. Unfortunately this relationship has a sad ending.
Rachel, the more sensible one, also is divorced and has a son living with his dad.
In Series I Rachel falls in love with detective Knocker Harrison (Peter Mochrie) but in the season finale it comes to a very bitter end. Like Frank, Goldie's love life isn't a lucky one either. In Series III there is a short fling with fellow detective Jack Christie, but it doesn't lead to anything.
The boat crew and divers are the other important part of the Water Rats. Tommy Tavita, Gavin Sykes, Tayler Johnson and Dave McCall are the ones who searches the water for bodies. At the station are senior sgt Jeff Hawker and intelligence officer sgt Helen Blakemore the indispendable ones.
Some storylines take a few episodes before they come to an end. Also the personal lives of the characters are an important part of the series. Unlike Police Rescue, Water Rats evolved into more violence each season. It's not a family show - not for small kids anyway - but it's very well written and produced for a more mature audience. A real MUST see ! Unfortunately Colin Friels has left the show last week (13/4/99). His place will be taken by Steve Bisley, who already has been introduced as Detective Jack Christy in the previous season.
2000 NEW CAST MEMBERS:
Hold onto your seatbelts, the Rats are back.
The season starts 22/2/2000, there are a couple of new characters this season,here is a short introduction to the characters:

Rebecca Smart plays constable Donna Janevski: Replaces Raelee Hill
*Donna isn't sure being a cop is for her. Fresh from the academy she shows a flair for organisation, to the annoyance of some colleagues. Because she works on the front counter, Donna is in the perfect place for all the juicy gossip.Rebecca is better known for Heartbreak High and a couple of Aussie movies.

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Diarmid Heidenreich plays constable Matthew Quin: Replaces Tommy Tavita
* Matthew spent his life near the water, and it was his lifelong ambition to join the water police. It has helped him to come to terms with a fatal accident a few years ago. A larrikin and a flirt, Matthew can be overconfident at times. Diarmid is better know for Pizza Hut advertisments, kids shows, Echo Point (a failed Aussie soap) and a highly publisiced car accident in which he was charged and served detention for being drunk and drugged and seriously injuring his then girlfriend.
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Joss Mc William plays Diver Senior Sergent Lance Rorke: Replaces Dave McCall
Better known for Pacific Drive, Wildside and GP
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Dee Smart plays Detective Senior Constable Alex St Clare: Replaces Catherine Mc Clements
A 7 year vetran of the force, Alex is street smart beyond her years. From a comfortable upbringing, she became a cop to escape the middle class tedium. An adrenaline junkie, Alex wants to make a difference. Better known for Home & Away, The Rocky Horror picture show
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Alison Cratchley plays Senior Constable Emma "Woodsie" Woods.
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Steve Bisley, Aaron Pederson, Toni Scanlon, Peter Bensely and Brett Partridge are returning to the show.

Click here for new episode details

Link:episode guide(Thanks to Rachel)

Another Water Rats site

OLD CAST:
Detective Frank Holloway - Colin Friels(left)
Detective Rachel "Goldie" Goldstein - Catherine McClements(left)
Detective Jack Christie - Steve Bisley
Senior Sgt Jeff Hawker - Peter Bensley
Sgt. Helen Blakemore - Toni Scanlan
Sgt Dave McCall - Scott Burgess
Sen. constable Terry Watson - Aaron Jeffrey(left)
Sen. constable Tommy Tavita - Jay Laga'aia(left)
Sen. constable Gavin Sykes - Brett Partridge
Constable Tayler Johnson - Raelee Hill(left)

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