Molly finds another cause to fight for when she discovers the town's long awaited footbridge will not be built near the school as the community wanted but has been relocated by the Shire Council so as to improve access between the football grounds and the pub - the same pub owned by Johnno, the Shire president. Heather, the clinic's temporary receptionist, sees Simon for a series of injuries .When she presents herself at the hospital with severe abdominal pains, Simon is sure she has an ovarian cyst but he can find nothing wrong with her when he performs a laparotomy. Shirley returns from her two week holiday in India, Nepal and Tibet a dramatically changed woman, engrossed in the mystical teachings of her guru. Needless to say, her friends are taken aback by this new Shirley, with her saffron robes and new "unpronounceable" name. Dr. Gordon Swift, a new arrival who has bought the old Foley farm, considers starting a practice in the area when his farming venture hits a rough patch. In a letter to Brendan, Maggie Sloan says she'll be returning soon.