It’s a chilly morning but there’s no stopping these Granny Grommets from hitting the waves

As the sun peeks through the clouds, a group of laughing women meet at a popular beach in Newcastle.

They call themselves the Newy Granny Grommets and are among the surfers and joggers who frequent Nobby’s Beach on a Friday morning.

Now in her 60s, Kate Lobb started the group when she realised there wasn’t a place for the older generation to catch the foamies together on their boogie boards.

“It was so much fun that I thought I should try to do it by myself, but I was never game to just go out by myself, so I thought if I got a group together it would be fun.”

The retired teacher said the benefits of being outdoors in the fresh air, meeting new people and having fun were really important for older people.

So when she read an ABC article on the Granny Grommets of Western Australia’s south, it inspired Mrs Lobb to start a similar group in Newcastle.

‘Just have a go’

Mrs Lobb says the group, which recruits women through social media and word of mouth, has widened her social circle in her community. 

“Have a go and if you don’t like it, doesn’t matter, just have a go.”

With rising cost-of-living pressures, she believes free and relaxed social groups are beneficial for the older generation.

“I think it’s important that we’re out there … what’s good about this group, it doesn’t cost people anything,” she said.

“This is easy, this is just fun and I think it’s really important to talk to other people in the community, different people that you haven’t met before.”

Never too old

Despite being dumped by the waves, Granny Grommet Fiona Clark is determined to paddle out every week.

“I’m not quite 100 yet, but you’ve got to watch out for the strength in your bones … it is a cardio workout,” she said.

“As you get older and you do this type of stuff, not a lot of people do it.”

The 61-year-old grew up riding waves in Sydney, and believes anyone can pick up a board.

“I’ve spoken to quite a number of ladies that I’ve told about the Newy Granny Grommets and they go, ‘I don’t know if I could do something like that’,” Ms Clark said.

“Once the word starts to build, people will be going, ‘I might go and try that’, because you’ve got nothing to lose.

Mental health benefits

While she only moved to Newcastle three years ago, Ms Clark believes there is something special about the city’s beach culture.

“Everyone kind of gravitates down to the water … it’s just endless what everyone does,” she said.

“I think it’s just part of the culture in the city — that’s what makes it so beautiful.”

This connection to the local beach culture resonates with Libby Maskey, who has strong roots in Newcastle 

“I’ve grown up in Merewether all my life and the beach, we’ve got so much to give here,” she said.

“I just love the water, I go back to the Surf-O-Plane days …  back in the 60s.”

Although she doesn’t surf with the Granny Grommets every week, Mrs Maskey said just visiting the beach was good for people’s mental health.

“The fresh air, the amazing people … you wouldn’t see this from your bedroom,” she said.

“It’s just amazing … you forget everything else.