14/09/2026
FROM WHENCE I CAME…
By Jemima Batt-Andersson
Table Top Community Centre Bookings Officer
I originally hail from a small village in the Yorkshire Dales — a beautiful corner of the world where the scenery is magnificent, the weather builds character, and one learns from an early age that there is very little either a decent cup of tea — or a G&T — cannot put right.
Many moons ago, I decided there was a rather large world beyond Yorkshire, so I packed my suitcases and set off for Australia. Must have been the "Puddle Duck" in me. 🪿
And that was where things became interesting.
In Cairns in 1989, I met Johan — a Swede who had spent the previous two years Thai kickboxing in Thailand. Not my normal type, but I fell hook, line and sinker for this amazingly gorgeous guy!
Not perhaps the most conventional introduction to one’s future husband, but then our story has never been terribly conventional. Father disapproved, of course… but years later, when it mattered most, Johan won him over.
In 1990 we went our separate ways, only to reconnect in 2001. Long story short — and after an awful lot of commuting back and forth — in 2004 Johan did the rather splendid thing of upping sticks from Sweden and moving to the Gold Coast, where I was living with my two sons, to marry me.🥂
Thus began our somewhat interesting life together.
We spent nearly seven fantastic years living in Seoul, South Korea, and when the contracts came to an end, we decided to spend some time where we’d first met — Cairns.
Then COVID arrived and put paid to any further grand plans for a while — but what a super place to get stuck. 🏖️
During this period, I acquired what I fondly refer to as my COVID baby — my Friesian horse, De Baron of Riversleigh. Quite possibly one of my more extravagant lockdown decisions, but considerably more attractive than a sourdough starter.
Eventually, Johan was offered a job here in Albury Wodonga, so we packed up and sent our household and horse ahead of us. We then gathered up our two dogs and two cats and began the journey south in a camper van. 🤷♀️
I had firmly stated that the animals had flown quite enough in their lives and I wanted to drive them. 🤦🏼♀️
......It took nine very long days. Being that we were transporting animals they rented us a slightly older model. Everytime we hit a bump of which there were many, the drawers would rattle, the tv would swing out and the cupboards would open..😩
There are entire expeditions that have been completed with greater efficiency.
Fast-forward to now…
After two years of renting in Albury, Johan was loving his job, we decided to stay.
We’d fallen in love with the area, and as my rather substantial black COVID baby required considerably more than a suburban backyard, acreage was very much on the shopping list.
And so, somehow, the Yorkshire girl and the Swedish, former Thai kickboxer became country residents of Table Top.
Johan — once the international executive city slicker — now rides his motorcycle to work during the week and “occasionally” spends his weekends aboard a ride-on mower, surveying his domain and discussing grass — namely the weeds — with an enthusiasm I never thought possible. 👍🏻
And me?
I set off from a little village in the Yorkshire Dales with my matching luggage — having apparently misunderstood the concept of backpacking and assumed it referred to the style of holiday rather than the baggage — and somehow, along the way, accumulated a husband, two sons, a collection of animals that were flown to Seoul and back, a Friesian horse and enough stories to fill a book.
Best of all, we found Table Top.🥰
We arrived as newcomers but have found wonderful neighbours — admittedly through a little light stalking, running up my driveway pretending l was “just there” and waving with an air that l hoped appeared friendly rather than desperate.
Thankfully, it worked. 😆
Those neighbours have become dear friends, and we have found a genuine sense of community. Somewhere along this rather circuitous journey, this beautiful little part of the world has become home.
So, from whence I came?
Yorkshire may be where I came from, but Table Top is where I landed — and very happily so.
Now we’d love to hear your story.
Have your family been part of Table Top for generations? Did you arrive more recently? Perhaps you moved here for the space, the lifestyle, to be closer to town — or, like us, simply stumbled across it and thought, this will do rather nicely.
Tell us — from whence did you come, and how did Table Top become home?
