Neighbours

Dependable Daniel Fitzgerald (or ‘Fitzy’ to his mates) is a perfect school counsellor, friend and confidante. Having been a teacher since 2000 (training at Erinsborough High), Dan was also happy to take over Pepper Steiger’s Health Science and PE classes when she left abruptly for Queensland.

Dan’s laid-back but determined when he puts his mind to something. He’s easy-going but passionate about the people and things he loves. He’s got a sly sense of humour but he knows when it’s time to knuckle down and take things seriously.

As a counsellor, it’s Dan’s job to look beneath the surface and to strive to understand what drives other human beings. He prides himself on his honesty, loyalty and compassion and he inspires confidence. However, while Dan is excellent at persuading other people to reveal the innermost hope, fears and dreams, he himself is something of a closed book. He’s slow to really open up to people, or trust them with his true feelings.

As a teacher he’s no softie, but the students like him because he is fair and straightforward with them. There are no power games or condescension from Mr Fitzgerald: he respects his students and expects them to respect themselves. None felt this more than Ringo Brown, who found himself on the receiving end of some tough love from Fitzy when Pepper told him about his eating disorder.

Outside of work Dan channels his physical prowess into playing footy for the Erinsborough Dingoes and volunteering for the SES. He was a key player in the rescue of Ramsay Street’s youth from the dramatic dance party roof collapse.

Indeed the only area of Dan’s life over which he does not have total control is romance. Back in his trainee days Dan had failed flings with neighbour Steph Scully and colleague Tess Bell. When he fell in love with fellow university student Samantha, he thought he’d found ‘the one’. Sadly soon after their marriage, a miscarriage triggered the first symptoms of bipolar disorder in Sam. Their relationship disintegrated as Dan became her carer rather than her husband and eventually Sam just took off. 

Devastated by his shattered marriage, Dan returned to Ramsay Street looking for a new start. Settling into his new role at Erinsborough High and inching closer to colleague Libby Kennedy, things seemed to be looking up for Dan… until the day Samantha walked back into his life and introduced herself to Libby as Daniel’s long lost wife.