The Granny Grommets of Albany are riding a silver wave through the Western Australian coastal town's sometimes subdued reputation.

"God's waiting room? Well, it's a very nice waiting room, I can tell you," Granny Grommet Bev Voss said.

"If that's what out-of-towners say, I don't care because it's a lot of fun."

The Granny Grommets is a group of over-50s women from the Great Southern region who meet once a week at Middleton Beach to go surfing, body boarding and swimming — most having never tried surfing before joining the Grommets.

New members must follow three simple rules: be over 50 years of age, know basic surf lifesaving skills, and, most importantly, be willing to laugh.

"When I first moved to Albany, I had five kids and they were always going out surfing, coming home in wetsuits, making a mess in the laundry," Ms Voss said after a chilly early morning surf.

"Now it's me doing that."

Origins of a surfing experience

The Grommets started about 17 years ago as part of an over-50s recreational group.

In the early days, some thought the women were too old to be out surfing.

"When I first joined, my daughter told me not to use my real name because it would be too embarrassing, but she's gotten over that now," Ms Voss said.

"I have four grandkids, I think between all the Grommets, there could be hundreds.

"On the school holidays they come down, they seem to like mixing with us, they used to think it's a bit odd, and I guess they still do."

Since the group started, numbers have swelled to nearly 70 members, dozens showing up every Friday morning — rain, hail or shine — with religious fervour.

Surf instructor Tony Harrison with some of his students in Albany. ( ABC Great Southern: Aaron Fernandes )

The Grommets' training, provided by local surf instructor Tony Harrison, equips them for all conditions.

They know how to spot rips and make it to shore on their own if they get caught in one.

"They are there every Friday," Mr Harrison said.

"There will be no other surfers out on the west coast, but these ladies will be there catching waves, hooting and hollering when they get one and that's the best part.

"Seeing them happy and enjoying life."

From farming to surfing

Many of the women lived and worked on nearby inland farms before retirement, some having never been in the ocean until joining the Granny Grommets.

"I lived on a farm in Katanning and when I came down here to retire the surfing was going on and I loved it so much," member Nan Anderson said.

"I've come every week ever since. I've found there's nobody who can catch a wave and not smile — everybody laughs."

Some of the Granny Grommets enjoying a post-surf cup of tea. ( ABC Local: Aaron Fernandes )

Ms Anderson said the surfing experience was one which had proven infectious among fellow senior citizens.

"If you want to know where the Granny Grommets are, you just listen," Ms Anderson said.

"The oldest Grommet is 83 years old, and she's still surfing. Some people can't wait until they're 50 so they can join."

Surfing grannies immortalised in print

The Granny Grommets have made such an impression in Albany, they've become the subject of a children's picture book.

Author Dianner Wolfer reads her book to students ( ABC Great Southern: Aaron Fernandes )

Albany author Dianne Wolfer wrote "Granny Grommet and Me", after hearing laughter coming from the waves.

"I was walking my dog along the beach one morning, and I heard these women in the ocean laughing and having fun," Ms Wolfer said.

"I wanted to capture some of their joyfulness in a book for children as the Grommets are not what you expect, and kids love that.

"They are not sitting quietly at home, there's something brave and fabulous about what they do."