Her words came after two hours of highlight reels, songs, and stories from those who knew her best. The stage was draped in flags left over from Splore Festival, an event Jools and her sister had a history of performing at.
The Jools Topp Memorial service was held at the Auckland Viaduct Events Centre. Photo / Jason Dorday
Bagpipes, owing to the twins’ Scottish heritage, ushered the family in, with Lynda holding a box containing Jools’ ashes.
Host Miriama Kamo told family, friends, media and politicians in attendance that they were there for a celebration, not a memorial service.
“What is the point in life if you’re not having fun? It’s what Jools would have said.”
Lynda, who appeared emotional, yet defiant, wearing her sister’s cherished pounamu, opened by saying goodbye to her twin was the hardest thing she has had to do.
Her speech was supposedly written in Jools’ notebook, which was revealed to be empty as the crowd laughed. Lynda said she “didn’t have to write things down” and “wanted to speak from the heart” about her sister’s final days and death.
“Four women she adored and loved were there when she died, passing away in their arms,” she said.
“We formed a circle around her, and we’re all instructed to pull a word card out of a small box and to place it in front of where we stood.”
The words included gratitude, trust, willingness, peace, light, love, honesty, truth, purpose, balance, openness, compassion and kindness.
Dame Lynda Topp speaks at her sister’s celebration of life in Auckland. Photo / Jason Dorday
“I know there are a few politicians in the room. Perhaps we take all of those words and run our country with them,” Lynda joked to widespread applause.
“If you want a good election campaign, you will hire me as your adviser.”
Brother Bruce Topp also paid tribute, labelling his sister as kind, generous, funny, forgiving and intelligent.
“Ride well on your horse into the sunset, darling sister.”
Jools’ activist spirit played a key role throughout the service.
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark said the twins were always generous with their time when it came to the matters they cared about, listing numerous social issues the Topp Twins campaigned for, including the nuclear-free movement and the rainbow community.
Helen Clark pays tribute to Dame Jools Topp. Photo / Jason Dorday
Friend and Māori activist Mereana Pitman said the twins were the Che Guevaras of the Pākehā lesbian movement.
“During the eight times I was arrested, Jools and Lynda would always turn up. They would always end up getting my kids and taking them to the Gluepot [Tavern in Ponsonby].”
Michaela Evans, who was part of a group caring for Jools’ beloved horses, said the singer was a “devoted lifelong student of the horse and a steward of good horsemanship”, even as she lived with her illness.
Manager of 35 years, Arani Cuthbert, said the Topp Twins leave “a mighty big legacy” and that New Zealand mourns the end of a cherished cultural phenomenon.
“They have given so generously to charities and helped three generations of lesbians in this country come out, including myself,” she said.
“They taught me that being gay wasn’t something to be ashamed about, it was something to sing about. Out loud, together.”
The Jubilation Choir were among the many performers at the celebration of Dame Jools Topp. Photo / Jason Dorday
Performers included the Jubilation choir, Anika Moa, Tami Neilson and Neil Finn, who sang from Greece via a video screen. All spoke of the Twins’ massive impact on New Zealand music and culture. A powerful rendition of Smith’s Bathe in the River made the audience leap to their feet.
After a closing sing-along of the Twins’ hit song Untouchable Girls, Lynda had a strong message before the election, saying there were “thousands of lesbians out there ready to march for a different country”.
She said there were many people out there wondering how they would get through the next week.
“New Zealand, do not let that happen. Make your statement at the voting stations. Honour Jools Topp and let’s make New Zealand a much better, much fairer country.”
A crowd of thousands came to celebrate the life of Dame Jools Topp in Auckland. Photo / Jason Dorday.
Mitchell Hageman joined the Herald’s entertainment and lifestyle team in 2024. He previously worked as a multimedia journalist for Hawke’s Bay Today.