Teresa 'Tess' Gallagher

Blue Heelers character


image_size =
name = Teresa 'Tess' Gallagher
gender = Female
rank = Sergeant
first_ep_name = Lost and Found
first_ep_no = 270
first_ep_date = 31/5/2000
last_ep_name = Motherhood
last_ep_no = 407
last_ep_date = 10/9/2003
eps = 137
reason = Pregnancy - natal condition,
Left Mt. Thomas
actor = Caroline Craig
romances = Josh Carmichael
Evan Jones

Tess Gallagher was a Blue Heelers character that lasted from 2000 to 2003. She arrived after Maggie Doyle's death.She arrived as the new Sergeant at Mount Thomas, taking Ben Steward's assumed position. This and her emotionally withdrawn and critical character initially fuelled animosity between her and her colleagues. She eventually came to be respected as a worthy Sergeant particularly by her colleague Senior Detective P.J. Hasham and her boss Senior Sergeant Tom Croydon.

Tess was known to have a precarious childhood and this provides the explanation to her acerbic behaviour. Tess' family is pictured to be disjointed and hectic and leads her to adopt a survivalist attitude. Her mother is portrayed as ignorant and misguided individual who intentionally cared little for her five children. Tess mentions that she has three brothers (although this is never confirmed) and one sister named Bridie all of which she supposedly raised throughout her own childhood. There is no mention of Tess' father and it is assumed that he played no role in Tess' life since her birth.

Tess' upbringing served to mould her into a determined and successful individual both attaining a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at University and the role of Senior Detective at Shepparton in Regional Victoria.

Tess' emotional withdrawal eventuates in a number of failed relationships throughout the series. Her initial love interest Probationary Constable Jack Lawson although significantly younger than her manages to win her trust and convinces her to momentarily dispose of her cynical outlook toward men and committed relationship. This trust is soon destroyed as Jack is charged for the murder of a suspect and is seen to show no remorse for his action. Jack is replaced by Constable Evan Jones to whom Tess takes an immediate interest but it also taken aback by his relentless foolhardiness. As the Constable's interest in his Sergeant grows from an initial admiration to love, Tess is cautious with her relationship to the Constable and often harshly although reluctantly dismisses any form of affection from Jones that could potentially endanger her pseudo stable existence. The potential of a relationship with Jones scares Tess into marrying the rogue Doctor Josh Carmicheal. Josh's concealed homosexuality and criminal habit of stealing pethidine for a former schoolboy lover results in Tess' decision to divorce her husband. Jones is seen to support Tess both through her divorce with her husband and effective pregnancy with Josh's child by considering to marry her. Tess' history of failed relationship deemed this unwise but Tess does hold a firm friendship with Jones throughout her pregnancy until her final departure due to her contraction of pre-eclampsia.

Although Tess is originally seen as a volatile character there are instances during the series that showcase her vulnerability as a human being. Her empathy toward a truant child Hayley who also suffers a tormenting childhood see Tess foster the child and consider her adoption although this doesn't eventuate. Tess' eventual pregnancy also portrays her vulnerability as she faces the decision to either terminate her unborn child or potentially die.

Tess Gallagher is viewed by many as a controversial character particularly to viewer who intended her to serve as a replacement for Maggie Doyle. Many viewers of the program found her to be poor substitute.

Tess' departed from the series due to the risk of untreated pre-eclampsia. Her departure effectively resulted in her reconciliation with her long time estranged mother Denise.