Granny Grommets riding the waves of Western Australia's south coast every week

From ABC Great Southern, posted June '23: If you visit Albany's popular Middleton Beach on a Friday morning, it would be hard to miss the gaggle of grannies in the water.

With their wetsuits on, colourful boogie boards in hand, smiles stretched across their faces and loud laughs, you cannot help but feel like you should be a member of the Granny Grommets.

To join, you have to be over 50 years old, have basic water safety skills, and always be up for a laugh.

Chris Offer, known as OG (original) and an OBE (over bloody eighty), has been a Granny Grommet since its inception 23 years ago.

"During my lifetime I was never able to get anywhere near the ocean because we were farmers farming inland," she said.

"Retirement to Albany was just absolute bliss for me … I couldn't get in quick enough.

"I think the Granny Grommets are the happiest group of women I've ever been fortunate enough to be part of."

She said it was just about having fun and "enjoying every minute of it".

"They're a lovely group of women to be part of," Ms Offer said.

A few years ago she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer that begins in the lymphatic system.

"I've had treatment for that. I've come out the other side and carried on," Ms Offer said.

Since getting back and recovering from her treatment, Ms Offer has found a "wonderful sense of freedom".

"I mentally say, 'I am just so happy to be here'," she said.

"I just love being out with like-minded women."

Fellow OBE Val Parker was one of many Granny Grommets who helped get Ms Offer back into the ocean after her treatment and described her as "amazing".

"She just gets on with it," she said.

Ms Parker said the group had "really grown over the years".

"There were only 18 of us when we first started, and now there's over 90, I believe," she said.

Surf instructor Tony Harrison started the group, giving the grommets training to equip them for all conditions.

He also keeps watch from the shoreline — rain, hail and shine — every Friday.

"In mid-winter it's pretty hard … but sometimes it's warmer in the water than it is out," Ms Parker said.

"If you're red-eyed and you've got water up your nose, well you've had a good time."

Ms Offer said it did not matter whether they were catching "big surf or small surf", they were "happy".

"That's what it's all about, doing what you love."

 - AUTHOR: OLIVIA Di TORO

 - SOURCE: ABC GREAT SOUTHERN

 ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE