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The Granny Grommets marked 25 years of fighting ageism, staying social,and having plenty of laughs through their weekly bodyboarding catch-up with a surf and a morning tea.
Kim Buttfield started the group in 1999 with Tony Harrison, after being approached by some older women in her mothers/daughters surfing program who wanted to learn how to get involved.
“Twenty-five years ago we just started sort of with some low-key classes, and it’s just basically growing every year from strength to strength,” she said.
“We were women over 50 who want to learn how to bodyboard and a little bit about ocean awareness, learning about rips and safety around the beach, but it’s grown from there.
“Granny Grommets have become much greater than what we really originally ever anticipated.
“We can say ‘Yes, I’m a granny, an older woman, but I can get out in the water and surf and interact with the children and the grandchildren’.
“It just keeps a zest for life.”