For more than three decades, Irene Roberts has been the beating heart of Home and Away. From her wise advice at the Diner to her fierce loyalty as a friend, she has stood as one of

Summer Bay’s most beloved characters. But now, fans are bracing themselves for a heartbreaking farewell as Irene makes a bold, life-changing choice that will alter the Bay forever.

After years of nurturing others, Irene has finally decided to put herself first. Following a devastating Alzheimer’s diagnosis, she realises that time is no longer on her side. Her decision:

to sell her iconic beach house and embark on the adventure of a lifetime, traveling the world while she still has the chance. It’s a move that has stunned the Bay and left her friends scrambling to come to terms with saying goodbye.

Irene’s Shattering Diagnosis

The cracks began to show when Irene suffered a series of unsettling memory lapses—small incidents at first, but enough to alarm her loved ones. Her occasional forgetfulness grew more concerning, leading her to seek medical advice. The result was devastating: Irene was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

The news hit her like a tidal wave. Irene, the woman who had always been everyone else’s rock, suddenly had to confront her own fragility. Sitting with her closest friends, she admitted that she feared never experiencing the things she had dreamed about—traveling, seeing the world, and finally living for herself.

It was Sonny Baldwin who reminded her that she still had time, that life wasn’t over, and that she could still take control of her destiny. His encouragement planted a seed in Irene’s mind that quickly grew into a life-changing decision.

Putting the Beach House on the Market

In a move that sent shockwaves through Summer Bay, Irene announced that she was putting the famous Beach House up for sale. The home that had been her sanctuary for decades, the place where countless friendships, heartaches, and celebrations had unfolded, would soon belong to someone else.

John Palmer, her longtime friend and confidant, was hit particularly hard. He couldn’t imagine Summer Bay without Irene, without their morning chats, or without her warm presence at the Diner. “You’re my best mate,” he admitted, his voice cracking with emotion, “and I don’t want to lose you.”

But Irene, with her trademark resilience, gently reminded him—and everyone else—that this was her time. She had already begun arranging the support she would need, from traveling with carers when necessary to staying with friends around the globe. While John struggled to accept it, Leah, Justin, and Alf stood firmly by her side, promising to support her every step of the way.

Reality Forces a Change

At first, Irene planned to leave in six weeks, giving her friends and the Bay time to adjust to her absence. But fate had other plans.

One morning, John found Irene at the Diner, completely unaware that she no longer worked there. The moment was heartbreaking—a stark reminder of how quickly her condition was progressing. For Irene, it was the wake-up call she needed. She realised she couldn’t afford to delay her dreams any longer.

“I can’t wait any longer,” she told her friends firmly. With those words, she ripped up her six-week timeline and declared she would leave immediately.

The shockwave spread fast through Summer Bay. Her loved ones had hardly adjusted to the idea of her leaving in six weeks—now they were faced with the reality that she could be gone in a matter of days.’

The Farewell Plans Begin

Leah, Justin, Alf, John, and Marilyn quickly shifted gears. If Irene was leaving sooner than expected, then they would make sure her farewell was one she would never forget. Plans for a farewell party began, with every detail designed to remind Irene of just how loved she was.

John, though devastated, promised to deliver a heartfelt speech in her honor. Leah reached out to the travel agent in Yabbie Creek to finalise Irene’s plans, only to be presented with two stark options: she could leave in three weeks or in just three days.

The choice weighed heavily on Irene, but in true Irene fashion, she leaned toward bravery. Waiting risked more confusion, more decline, and more regret. Leaving immediately, though heartbreaking for her friends, ensured she would take control of her future on her own terms.

A Bay United in Love

As word spread through Summer Bay, the community came together in an emotional outpouring of love. For more than 30 years, Irene had been there for everyone—raising foster kids, offering advice, and standing by her friends through their darkest hours. Now, it was their turn to rally around her.

Preparations for her farewell became a mission of love. Marilyn set about creating decorations that captured Irene’s spirit, while Alf, though gruff as ever, quietly admitted that he didn’t know how he would cope without her. “The Bay won’t be the same without you, love,” he told her, his voice thick with emotion.

John, meanwhile, battled his own heartbreak. The thought of losing his best mate left him reeling, but he knew deep down that Irene’s happiness had to come first. “If this is what you need, then I’ll stand by you every step of the way,” he promised her.

The End of an Era

After nearly 33 years on Home and Away, Irene’s departure is more than just a storyline—it marks the end of an era. Fans around the world have watched her grow from a troubled soul to a beloved matriarch, a woman whose resilience and kindness defined the spirit of Summer Bay.

Her decision to leave on her own terms, to embrace life in the face of such a difficult diagnosis, ensures that her exit will be remembered as one of the most powerful in the show’s history. Rather than letting her illness define her, Irene is choosing adventure, courage, and independence.

What Happens Next?

The big question now is: how will Summer Bay move on without Irene? Will John be able to fill the void left by his best friend? Can Leah and Justin keep the Diner running without her guiding presence? And will the Beach House, soon to be in new hands, ever feel the same again?

For Irene, though, the future is clear. She may be saying goodbye to the Bay, but she is saying hello to the world. From Paris to Rome, from New York to Tokyo, she plans to see it all—and she’s determined to do it before her illness robs her of the chance.

Final Thoughts

Home and Away has always been about love, loss, and the courage to keep moving forward. Irene Roberts embodies all of that and more. Her decision to leave, to seize the time she has left and live life to the fullest, is both heartbreaking and inspiring.

As she prepares to walk away from the Bay she has called home for over three decades, one thing is certain: her absence will be deeply felt, but her legacy will never fade.

Irene’s brave choice to leave now is a reminder that life is fragile, precious, and worth living to the fullest. Summer Bay will never be the same, and neither will we.