One half of the beloved Topp Twins, Dame Jools Topp, has passed away after a courageous cancer battle, aged 68.
Surrounded by her loved ones including her twin sister Lynda, brother Bruce and her pets by her side, her family shared in a statement, ““It is with deep sorrow and unimaginable grief we announce the passing of Jools, our beloved sister and daughter. Today we have lost a true warrior woman. Jools was wise, courageous, generous, inspiring and funny. We will miss her forever”.
First diagnosed with breast cancer 22 years ago, Jool shared in a 2023 interview with New Zealand Woman’s Weekly, “ Every day above ground is a good day. There’s this life we’re living, and we’re supposed to live it and to try to do the best we can. I’ve lived with my cancer for nearly 20 years and I’ve never let it stop me. Not once. No way.”
“I live the dream every day because I get out of bed, make sure the dogs are happy, the cats are fed, the fish have food in the pond, and the cows and the horses are good. And I have a big smile on my face because I’m really fit for my age. I still have a lot to give and I have a lot of energy.”
The Topp Twins have been a popular country music-singing comedy duo in New Zealand since the 1970s. In the late 1990s, their TV series Do Not Adjust Your Twinset saw the creation of their iconic characters including Camp Mother & Camp Leader and Ken & Ken, capturing the Kiwi culture.
Releasing their memoir in 2023, Jools shared, “It’s quite hard writing your life story when it’s not over yet”.
