Introducing sensible Steve, 15, and tearaway Tamara Henderson, 13, two city kids who live with their mother Alice in Melbourne. A hard up family who find more financial problems when Tam crashes into a fruit stall while racing her brother home on her roller skates, he is on a bus. Alice considers selling up and moving to Haven Bay to stay with her brother Mike who is the local policeman. Meanwhile a ruthless business man Ashley Wheeler also from Haven Bay offers to buy Henderson Point from them, but as it is sentimental to her Alice refuses, but does agree to meet up with him. Also introducing the Haven Bay kids Cowboy,Char,Brains and Ted who's father is also in a battle with Ashley Wheeler over the Mill closure. On her way to meet Ashley Wheeler Alice saves a little boy from being run over by pushing him out of the way, unfortunately she doesn't get herself out of the way and is killed by a truck.

Mike travels to Melbourne to break the news of their mother's death to Tam and Steve, devastated the kids attend their mothers funeral then are reluctantly packed up to live in Haven Bay with Uncle Mike, until their father can be found. Ashley Wheeler who at first was furious for being stood up now believes the land will be passed on to Mike and vows to look after him, in a bid to get him to sell him ""Henderson Point"". Labelled ""Copper's Kids"" by local bully Ted Morgan, Tam and Steve receive a frosty reception and find it difficult to make any friends in Haven Bay. Deciding to visit the ""Point"" there mother has left them they see someone disappear into the trees, surprised they follow but the person has gone. Later the local kids come to hang out at the ""Point"" and argue with Tam and Steve, then Ted arrives furious that his Dad has been sacked, he starts a fight with the Steve and they both fall over the cliff.