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 TOM LUCAS
Played by John McTernan
Position: Teacher
First Ep: 688
Last Ep: 692
Total Featured: 5 Episodes
Current Status: Assumed still teaching at Wentworth
As the last main/regular character introduced to the series and only lasting 5 episodes, Tom's character achieved quite a lot in such a small amount of time.
Not much is known about Tom's personal life or background due to the series ending, but what is known is he's a born and bred city-kid who obviously by his accent lived in America for many years. It's unknown whether he was born here in Australia and grew up in the United States or whether he emigrated here.
An avid fan of the outdoors, he spent many holidays in the outback. It's where he came across his love for motorcycles; especially Harleys. He must have been a little clumsy earlier in life as he notes he'd fallen of his bike so many times and landed in a lot of saltbush during a conversation with Alice 'Lurch' Jenkins.
One of Tom's first tasks after arriving at Wentworth many saw as his toughest, rescuing Merle Jones from Ingleside Mental Hospital. Suprisingly though, this almost seems meanial to him as he quickly succeeds in Merle's safe return to Wentworth.
His next task provides an extremely humorous moment for the series... typing classes. With the Department not giving him an answer for the approval of the new typewriters, Tom uses his initiative again and, using the prisoners, sneaks around the entire prison pinching typewriters from wherever he possibly can, including right from under Pat Slattery's nose. Seeing the determination of Tom and the inmates on the classes being a success, the Department grant him finally the new typewriters.
After rescuing Merle, he decides she needs special, private lessons away from the other inmates to cater to her abilities. Although starting off well, Tom feels he needs Kath Maxwell(who had had previous experience with teaching) to join in to help get her back into a better learning frame of mind. Kath and Merle start of very uneasy about the whole situation due to Kath's betrayal of Merle, but when Tom gets the talking some of the tension subsides. Whether stratgically done or not, Tom's typewriter meeting with the Department clashes with one of Merle's lessons so he tells Kath to run it hoping it'll get the two women back together again. It fails when Merle refuses to work without Tom and runs off to hide under her bed. Tom eventually convinces Kath to 'get Merle out from under there' after helping her realise her life is one worth fighting for and restoring her friendship with Merle is a major stepping-stone in doing so.
The other strong bond Tom shares with one of the prisoner is with top-dog Rita Connors. Trying to prove himself to her he challenges her to a bench-pressing competition. After hitting the 140kg mark, Rita's turn comes up and she collapses. He feels bad not knowing and pushing her beyonds her limits but doesn't find out until later the true extent of her illness. Tom offers to help Rita get throughher cancer by getting her books to study about the disease and guide her through it. Seeing how tough it is on her, he has no doubt in his mind when Alice Jenkins asks for his assistance in organizing a birthday present for Rita... a ride on a Harley, possibly for the last time.
Tom's character was very forthcoming and straight to the point. He brings out the good in people and genuinely wants to help the women reform, choosing to ignore those who diasgree. A real asset to the prison system, Tom is one member of staff Wentworth were very lucky to receive.
© 2007 Peter Strauss for On The Inside. Not to be reproduced without permission.
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Classic Moment:
Tom was one of the few to penetrate through the tough exterior of Kath Maxwell
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