In 1988 the West Tamworth Mother's Club transformed into a social tennis competition as their children got older, and once their children had grown up they decided to give that extra attention to local charities.

These days ladies play twice a week, chipping in $4 each for court fees, with the change being thrown into a charity tin.

On Wednesday the group donated $1000 to the Tamworth Stroke Recovery Club, taking their total charitable donations tally to over $20,000.

Founding member Yvonne Fisher said the change from fees takes a little while to build up, but all counts.

"When we first started we wanted to give it to local organisations that are crucial to Tamworth and the community," she said.

"We also like to invite someone from the organisation in to tell us what the money is being spent on - we don't just want it to go into a bank account or a pot of money - we like to see where it goes."

On Wednesday Nancy Hall accepted the donation on behalf of the Stroke Recovery Club, telling the ladies that it will be spent on upgrading the watering system in the Serenity Garden of the hospital's stroke recovery ward.

Since the first donation of $360 to the Hydrotherapy Pool in 1988, the ladies have also donated to, and bought equipment for Nioka, the local Ambulance Service, the North West Cancer Centre, Serendipity, Heaven Can Wait animal shelter, the Westpac Rescue Chopper and Angel Flight to name a few.

"We also like to give to organisations that we might start to require or need as we get older," Ms Fisher said.

"There is generally about 16 playing tennis, and we range in age from 86 down to about 60."

The ladies are always on the look-out for new members, with anyone invited to join them on Wednesdays or Fridays from 8am, although "they do have to be able to play a bit of tennis".