The sisters were both appointed Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours.
[1] Jools Topp and her twin sister Lynda were born on 14 May in 1958 in Huntly, to Jean and Peter, and grew up on a dairy farm in Waikato.
[3] After leaving Huntly College in 1976, Jools and Lynda Topp joined the New Zealand Territorial Force and were posted at the Burnham Military Camp near Christchurch for six weeks.
[4] When they were 17, they performed at the Victorian Coffee Lounge (Montreal Street, Christchurch Central City).
[6] On the birth of a new generation with Lynda being a grandparent and Jools being a grand aunt they admitted they didn't expect it when they were younger because as they said: "We're all gay", referring also to their brother.
[7] Jools Topp is a skilled horsewoman[8] and for many years had a 6.9 hectares (17 acres) property in Helensville, north of Auckland, with her partner.
[14] The Topp Twins' popularity arose from a regular stint busking in Auckland when they were in their early 20s.