Judith Ackroyd, portrayed by actress
Anna Hruby, made her first appearance on 21 October 1999 and departed on 21 November 2000. Prior to starring in
Home and Away, Hruby had previously played Paddy Lawson on
Prisoner Cell Block H. Commenting on the demise of Judith's relationship with
Joel Nash (David Woodley), Jackie Brygel of the
Herald Sun quipped "Gee, that Judith's a smart cookie. After all, we're talking about a woman who this week very, very slowly comes to realise that maybe, just maybe, her relationship with Joel might be over. And what has finally brought Judith to this conclusion? Simply the fact that Joel is leaving Summer Bay with his ex-wife,
Natalie (
Antoinette Byron). Yep, we told you the woman was a genius." Judith takes over as principal of Summer Bay High after
Donald Fisher (
Norman Coburn) takes a sabbatical. She overhears a conversation between
Mitch McColl (
Cameron Welsh) and
Hayley Smith (
Bec Cartwright) discussing the fact that Donald thought Judith had slept her way into the job due to achieving the position at younger age. Judith is annoyed until Donald sets her straight. Judith's son
Edward Dunglass arrives. He is the result of an affair she had had some years previous with an older married lecturer,
Edward Dunglass Snr. (
Peter Sumner). Edward Snr had died of
Huntington's disease, meaning there is a fair chance Edward has inherited it. Judith is tolerant of Edward's eccentric, rebellious streak. Judith and Donald begin to see eye-to-eye after she helps him re-write his novel
A Letter to Byron. She also clashes with
Gypsy Nash (
Kimberley Cooper) who runs for school captain when she blocks her appointment. Gypsy retaliates by spreading rumours that Judith is having an affair with Donald. Judith is somewhat shocked when Edward announces that he has "married" his girlfriend
Peta Janossi (Aleetza Wood) in a private ceremony in her garden and they plan to move in together. Neither Judith nor Joel Nash, Peta's foster father are happy about the idea but as a compromise Judith agrees to let Peta move in with them. After Donald's wife,
Marilyn (
Emily Symons) leaves him following the death of their son, Judith becomes closer to Donald. Edwards is keen for Judith to pursue a relationship with him but she ultimately ends up with the recently separated Joel. When Edward's diagnosis is confirmed, Judith gives him a video message that his father has recorded. Afterwards, Edward and Peta leave to go travelling after Judith arranges for the pair to go and stay with her cousin in
Rome as the first stage of their trip. Judith's relationship with Joel begins to deteriorate when they move into together and discuss the idea of children. When Joel is injured in the mudslide, his wife, Natalie returns. Joel tells Judith he will move back in with her but on the day he is discharged from hospital Judith drives him to Natalie, who he reconciles with and relocates to
Queensland with. She is upset but throws herself into applying for a job in
Switzerland. Judith worries she has failed the interview but is accepted. Before leaving, she recommends Donald return to his position and hires
Sally Fletcher (
Kate Ritchie). ==Edward Dunglass==