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 DOREEN BURNS nee ANDERSON
played by Colette Mann
Teddy-bear-clutching Doreen is initially one of Franky Doyle's crowd from the early episodes, and when Franky escapes Doreen goes over the fence with her. They are on the run for a couple of weeks but when Franky is shot dead Doreen is caught and returns to Wentworth. Bitter and angry Doreen tries to be a hard case, though this mostly seems to consist of using her bulk to elbow the weaker girls aside - especially Lynne Warner. Doreen's new style is out of respect to Franky however it doesn't last very long.
An early storyline for Doreen was finding out who her real mother is and meeting her in person (episodes 66 to 73). Doreen's mother however is terminally ill although Doreen doesn't find this out until later. Her mother dies and leaves Doreen her house in her will.
Doreen marries her boyfriend Kevin Burns while she is still in Wentworth for stealing whilst on parole. The ceremony is quite low key but enough for Dor to be happy. Not for long though - Doreen is almost persuaded to sell her mother's house to property developers but the other women ensure that she changes her mind as the evil Officer Jock Stewart is behind it all.
During her time in Wentworth Doreen has a number of memorable storylines - a favourite being the famous tunnel escape (episodes 160 to 168) under the cover of a kids pantomime being held in the prison grounds. Doreen ends up being trapped inside the tunnel with Bea and Lizzie when the walls give way and the whole thing collapses trapping them all inside. The girls think that they are there forever, and indeed are for a number of days. However they are all rescued - apart from Doreen's teddy-bear which is lost for good.
Doreen slowly begins to take more responsibility for herself and gradually matures enough to live life on her own. She is released for good in episode 303 and starts off her new life.
Just when we think we've seen the last of Dor she turns up in Sydney when Bea Smith escapes and calls on her to hide her from the authorities. Doreen has got her new life which she dreamt of and is doing well for herself but doesn't really want to get caught hiding an escaped criminal. Luckily things turn out alright for Dor and Bea makes it look as it she has forced Doreen to let her in - she even ties her up to make it look real!
Doreen makes her final appearance in Prisoner during episodes 435 to 446. All of her old mates have left the prison but Dor ends up back inside on purpose to stop herself from marrying a foreigner (who she had agreed to marry in order for him to stay in Australia). She's not in Wentworth for long and is released again and finally leaves the series for good.
© 2004 On The Inside. Not to be reproduced without permission.
Thanks to "Who's Who in Wentworth" for episode numbers & precise details.
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