Sunshine dances on Nahoon Beach as laughter pierces the air, mingling with crashing waves.
The Nahoon Granny Grommets, 171 vibrant women over the age of 50, kick off the new year boogie boarding with pure delight, no judgments just salty fun.
What started in 2023 as a casual phone call between friends, Julie Thompson Schroeter and Lee-Ann Lavender exploded into a movement.
Schroeter says she was keen to go down to Nahoon for a “boogie” and when she and Lavender finally went down and they spent many hours being stoked.
“At times she could not make it and that’s when I suggested we start a group. So we could always find some company.
“It took about 15 minutes to find a handful of keen friends. I then found a group of women in Australia and they called themselves Granny Grommets and I thought that was a rather apt name for us,” Schroeter said.
Some ladies did not really want to be “grannies” especially at the age of 50, but she said it’s really just sending a message out there that senior women are keen and able to enjoy themselves like young “groms” do — groms being a term for young beginner surfers.
They meet every Friday no matter if the wind is pumping or the rain is pouring, with one mission in mind, catching the biggest wave.
The only time they move off Nahoon Beach is if there is a problem with the quality of the water as the Buffalo City metro has had sewage spills in the vicinity.
“Thankfully this has improved so much in the last six months, thanks to more awareness and public pressure on the municipality to upgrade and repair the sewerage infrastructure.
“We are a sisterhood of like-minded middle-aged ladies who love to share the positive side of life.
“We leave the beach filled with this wonderful energy to tackle whatever comes our way until the next Friday session.
“We have formed a strong salty sisterhood of special ladies. Women are the givers in the community. In the workspace and at home. This group is for us. Where we can recharge our batteries and the carefree lifestyle the beach gives us.
“Often we encounter hardships at this stage of our lives and this gives us such a peaceful space to share and support each other,” Schroeter said.
Post-surf, they spend time with the sun on their backs, while they sit and share a cup of tea and have a laugh about who had the biggest wipeout. No sympathy there!
“Geez…you can hear and see the fabulous fun they have. The laughs the giggles are contagious.
“Not only for them but onlookers are amazed by all the ’grannies’ having such a fab time. Friday has become the favourite day of the week. This group has generated a connection between old and new friends.
“The water itself has such healing elements for them to benefit from. It allows you to wash away any stress and creates a wonderful space where you can feel the positive energy washing through your body mind and soul.”
Often women come and join for the camaraderie of friendships, but have not ventured into the sea for years.
“We assist them with water safety and keep an extra eye on them until they feel they are confident. They post water safety tips on their WhatsApp group and have had a few water safety demonstrations to help them in the water. They feel 30 years younger while they are with each other in and out the water.
“They definitely have added a fun aspect to their daily lives. This group has an organic element to it and nothing was planned but it has evolved over the months into a relaxed environment where no questions are asked.
“A totally unconditional space for women just to be, other than the rule of having to be 50 years old,” she said.
The women give back to the community by supporting Tidy Towns, which is such a worthy organisation for them to show their appreciation on making Nahoon a clean safe space for all to use.
One of the most emotional experiences that has come out of this group was when a Tidy Towns employee, known as Phineas, handed Schroeter a poem that he wrote for them. “It was an eye opener in so many ways.”
Schroeter said she has made so many new friends and often finds herself stepping back and just watching this sea of buzzing ladies sharing something magical that none of them expected to happen when this group was established.
The Granny Grommets is without a doubt one of her favourite journeys.
“No experience needed. We will assist you and we have extra boards for newcomers to try.
“We all lineup for a picture every week and any new ladies have to do a ‘run through’ where they line up and they run past them with lots of beating of boards and noise.
“This year we have some big things happening. It’s still in the planning stages and we should be able to share our plans soon. There are more than 700 Granny Grommets in the different groups that have popped up along the SA coastline and that is exciting.
“Don’t think about it… come and do it but beware. It’s addictive. You will love it. See you in the water next Friday,” Schroeter said.
