Jackie Nicholls

Jackie was first mentioned as having put Sam up for foster care when she realised she wasn’t able to look after him. When Sam moved in with foster carer Bobby, he continually asked about Jackie. Bobby believed it meant Sam wanted to see her, but it was more so he knew how long he could stay with Bobby. Bobby took Sam to social worker Louise Scott’s office to see his mother, but Jackie was very late to the appointment, which infuriated Bobby. Sam reluctantly went with his mother for a day visit, not wanting to hold her hand. Several weeks later, Jackie returned with news that she had a job and took Sam back. 

It later emerged that she had given up Sam once again. Bobby organised with Louise to have Sam returned to her care, but he ran away before he could be told. Jackie returned to the Bay to look for him, and locked horns with Bobby. After he was found in the bush hypothermic, she realised Bobby was the best person to look after her son and decided to give Sam up permanently. She left without saying goodbye to Sam, not wanting to put him through another farewell.