Johanna Griggs loves the water.  She grew up on Freshwater Beach, 17km from Sydney’s centre, received a bronze medal at the 1990 Commonwealth Games for backstroke and frequently films such shows as Channel 7’s Better Homes and Gardens and House Rules near waterways.  That’s where we come in, because the Mornington Peninsula is one of Johanna’s favourite surf, sand and wide open spaces places.

“The beaches on the south coast are much more spacious,” she says. “Sydney is so built up. Peninsula people seem very relaxed. They make eye contact and are ready for a chat. The locals in Tootgarook (House Rules with Claire and Hagan) were so friendly. They were incredibly welcoming and kept mum about the show until it was ready to air. The food was fantastic too.

“We’ve showcased the most beautiful architecture on the Peninsula in Better Homes and Gardens. The top three that come to mind are The Letterbox House at Blairgowrie and The Klein Bottle House by Mcbride Charles Ryan and the St Andrews Beach House by Sean Godsell.”

Johanna is one busy lady. Between her sports commentating commitments (the Rio Olympics and Paralympics), Better Homes and Gardens, House Rules and writing articles for New Idea and the Better Homes and Gardens magazines, she also runs a construction company with her husband, Todd.  “It’s great because I get ideas from the shows and can also visualise what the contestants in House Rules need to do because of my experience in construction.  I love what I do so it doesn’t feel like work, but I do need some downtime sometimes.

“We have a cattle farm (in the Lower Hunter Valley) where we escape to. I can just wander off and talk to the cows - they are excellent listeners!”