Goodbye CassieCassie was a character who was spoken about a lot in the months leading up to her departure. And not only was the huge storyline that led up to this talked about a lot, discussions about Cassie as a character were created too.
Here, we've summarised the main events that happened to Cassie before she left the Bay, and collated comments from some of our members on what they made of her exit storyline and Cassie as a character.
The Storyline
The 2008 season started off fairly calmly for Cassie. She was happy with Henk and most of the Bay had come to accept their relationship. Cassie had found out she was pregnant and Henk had just proposed to her. But this is Summer Bay we're talking about, so it's obvious that something a bit dramatic has to happen along the way! And in due time it did. Just a few days into the new season Henk found out he was HIV positive. Upset and terrified of whether Cassie had been infected too, Henk convinced Martha to tell Cassie that they needed some blood tests done for the insurance policy at the Surf Club. Although slightly surprised as to why she would need a blood test done, Cassie agreed, and most likely thought that that would be the end of it. However, just days after, she received a call from the medical centre asking her to come in. Understandably, Cassie was concerned as to why she was being called in again, and Henk wasn't exactly relaxed either. The next day they headed to the medical centre, where Cassie received news that she was HIV positive. In total shock, Cassie kept saying that "it must be a mistake"...but having seen the files and the look on Henk's face, she knew that what she was being told was true. Failing to come to terms with her diagnosis, she ran out of the centre and into the path of an oncoming car. She survived, but her relationship with Henk didn't, and he left the Bay. Just before that, though, Ric, Matilda, Belle and Drew all overheard her shouting, "I never meant to be 18, pregnant and HIV positive, but it's happened". Her closest friends now knew her diagnosis and she made it very clear that if they were to tell anyone, even Sally, she would not forgive them.
Cassie was soon out of hospital and seeing a counsellor to talk through her condition. He made it clear that it was unlikely that the baby would be born with the virus as long as proper precautions were taken throughout the birth. Cassie eventually plucked up the courage to tell Sally the news, and although she was shocked, she stayed calm and said she would be there to support her. Cassie's spirits started to lift and she began to take a more positive attitude towards what was happening from then on. Things weren't always easy, though. Revealing her condition to Alf and him walking off shocked at what she'd just told him was a hard thing for Cassie to deal with. But, after a chat on the beach, Alf made it clear that he would try to help her in any way he could. Part of the Diner's ceiling collapsing on Cassie's head caused a frantic moment for her, when blood started pouring out of her heard. Panicking, she told Colleen, Irene and Roman not to touch the blood, before running out of the Diner. Roman soon guessed why Cassie reacted that way, and told her that Colleen and Irene would be curious as to what was going on. Soon after, Cassie plucked up the courage to tell Irene and Colleen. Both were supportive of Cassie, and Colleen assured her that her secret was safe. However, later on, Cassie got annoyed at Colleen when she tried to take Pippa away from her for fear that she might 'catch it'. Wanting to take back more control of their lives, Sally suggested going on holiday to Cassie. She loved the idea and they both agreed on taking a break away from the Bay with little Pippa.
Having been inspired by Miles' talk at the school, Cassie decided to tell the students of her condition. Some of the students started asking questions, but Aden Jefferies had other things on his mind. Having just been told that HIV could be transmitted through blood-to-blood contact Aden rushed out of the classroom, soon followed by Cassie. On the night of the car accident both Cassie and Aden were bleeding, and so Aden was worried that he too was infected, and told Cassie to "pray that you haven't given it to me". But Aden had a test done and was revealed to be negative. With her and Sally's leaving date fast approaching, Cassie wanted to spend some time with best friend Matilda. So, a new plan was made - Cassie and Matilda would go on a road trip before the holiday, and Sally would fly to Pippa's place with little Pippa. Matilda loved the idea, and so after Sally's leaving concert and final farewell, they headed off. Cassie's final words: Goodbye Summer Bay!
On finding out she was HIV+ and subsequent events:
'I expected a real emotion-stopper of a performance and Sharni definitely gave it....she was just amazing...spectacular really, so much raw emotion, and unlike some of other characters, her emotions seemed real and authentic...'(rustysurfer)
'I think that when Cassie found out that she was HIV positive and she kept saying that it must be a mistake and Henk started to cry, I think that has been one of the most powerful scenes since the Beth's hands scene when she died'. (tmg)
'The reactions, the way of dealing with it and coming to terms with her condition, they're not only realistic, they're Cassie's reactions and her way of dealing with something! I think it was great how Cassie still thinks about helping other people and helping others see how they can learn from her "mistakes".' (Eli)
'I think the most terrifying part was when the Diner roof fell on top of Cassie's head and she started to bleed. Her reaction is one that I would expect from a HIV Positive person. Her thinking that her blood is toxic would be spot on in my books'. (Cal)
'I loved the realisation between Aden and Cassie. I had totally forgotten about that accident and what it could mean for the others involved'. (Jay Preston)
'Cassie was brave to share her secret with the school and I loved the scene in the corridor when she realised about the accident'. (karena)
On Sharni's portrayal of the storyline:
'Sharni's been utterly amazing this year with the HIV storyline'. (Jamey-Maria)
'I will admit that 80% of the time I really react against Cassie; she's waaaay too headstrong, stubborn, constantly falling for complete jerks, flirting, and wearing bikinis whenever she feels like it, etc. But when I think about it, she's one of the most strongly written characters on the show, and has had at least two of the strongest storylines in recent Home and Away history, domestic abuse and HIV. And Sharni's acting through these storylines is just amazing. She's what's made it work. And full credit to her'. (bobliveson)
'Her recent performances have been outstanding'. (mrs baker)
'Sharni Vinson, deserves as I think does the show, some positive recognition from HIV/AIDS charities. It's also made me re-evaluate Cassie, think back about her life in the show, and appreciate what a brilliant actress Sharni is and has been'. (JackWilkins)
'What can I say but WOW!!! I am blown away by the performances of the cast in Cassie's HIV storyline. Sharni Vinson's portrayal of Cassie is worthy of a Logie. She is without doubt showing her true worth as an actor and I love the way this storyline has been written'. (cheex30)
'Also I have to say that I think Sharni has done an amazing job with this storyline! Far better than I could have ever imagined that anyone would do it!' (Eli)
'Sharni's acting is superb. She is probably the most underrated actress on the show. If there is any justice she should be nominated for a Logie'. (irishgirl01)
'Sharni Vinson's acting talent is in a league of its own, she totally steals the show from everyone around her'. (DinerLandlord)
Overall:
'I have to say the HIV storyline has to be up there with some of the best storylines H&A has ever tackled. The only other storylines I can remember being as powerful were Shannon's eating disorder and Flynn's cancer'. (irishgirl01)
'Cassie, like Martha, has been given the "fall for obviously unsuitable guy, ignore the advice of all her family and friends and then act all surprised when it blows up in her face" storyline far too many times - it feels like one step forward two steps back with her and I've really stopped caring, which is a shame since when she first appeared I really liked her'. (Red Ranger 1)
'The thing is as well, with any thing in life, it's not what happens to you, it's how you deal with it that matters, and I think that what they are showing you with Cassie is that if you deal with something positively you can deal with anything that life throws at you. I think that's a pretty good message to be giving out don't you?' (chatterbox)
'I'm just amazed how in-character they have made this storyline as well. One thing is that they have handled the storyline in itself wonderfully, but it's a whole other thing how they've managed to make it a CASSIE-storyline as well'. (Eli)
'The only thing that gets me about it though is how unrealistic they've made the whole thing. Firstly she's telling most people she's pregnant (okay well not most people by she's told quite a few) but told them not to tell Sally even though she's acting over-happy around Sally anyway (surely she'd start to catch on that something's not right what with Cassie's morning sick-ness etc) and she's also told them not to tell Sally she's in hospital with HIV. I know with hospital's they MUST keep patients confidentiality but I just think it's a bit unreal where Sally doesnt know about anything yet. Like she has absolutley no clue whatsoever'. (Sarah8t9)
'I think it's been and is being handled wonderfully. The reactions of her family are what I would have expected - her friends showing great compassion, talking about it within themselves and looking it up on the internet'. (JackWilkins)
'Huge thumbs up to the writers and the continuity with the car accident, very impressed about that!' (alexx)
'I thought Cassie's departure really suited her. The whole HIV storyline was excellently done and we really saw Cassie become a whole different person. Wanting to travel has always been a feature of Cassie's character so I thought it was a perfect way for her to leave. The leaving on a road trip with Matilda was a really lovely understated goodbye with all those closest to her present. I was disappointed not to see the whole HIV storyline play out but I thought the writers did really well with Sharni's decision to leave and she left with me thinking I might actually miss her character, something I'd never have thought possible a few months ago'. (Skykat)
'Cassie came onto the show about the same time as Martha. In my opinion Cassie had a spark that shone above Martha. I think the reason she was brought into the show was because Ric looked like he was molesting Matilda, so an actress closer to his age was cast and a female version of Ric was created. She was originally fun, a bit of a risktaker and that second scene where she stripped naked, convinced Ric to do the same and then took off with his clothes was hilarious. Unfortunately not long after this she became a victim and never stopped becoming one. Sharni Vinson's acting was always good, she wasn't someone who adjusted into the role and she had that role nailed to begin with and in my opinion so did the writers however the writers lost it somewhere and unfortuanetly the audience didn't take to Cassie as much as they did Martha, even though IMHO Sharni was the better actor out of the two of them. The HIV storyline however worked well because the right character was given it and the right actor could handle it. It had never been done before like that, not only was Cassie HIV positive at eighteen she was also pregnant. It was a storyline that educated a lot of characters as well as alot of people in the audience learnt from it. The best thing about it was that it didn't only affect Cassie; Aden's fear about him developing it from the crash was handled the right way as well. I think the thing I find most sad about Cassie's time on the show is the way she left, it was overshadowed by the leaving of a longer standing character who shall remain nameless and I think although it worked out well for that character, it didn't work out that well for Cassie. And if the writers were to change the way she left at the last minute, they should have done their research and not ruin a long story arc that we saw only months before.' (Perryadams)