On behalf of the Darts Australia Board of Directors, affiliates and wider darts community, we congratulate Betty Hislop who was honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Awards for her services to darts.
Betty, a darts pioneer, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the general division.
Hailing from Western Australia, Betty has been passionately involved in darts for more than half a century across numerous roles including: Darts WA state team committee member, state director of coaching since 1992, President from 2008 – 2020, DWA Life Membership (1988), Hall of Fame inductee (2009), in addition to captaining numerous state teams along the journey.
On top of her services for DWA, Betty has made a strong contribution at a national level in roles including: national coaching director for two terms, Ladies and Junior Australia Captain four times, DA Life Membership (2004) and Hall of Fame (2009) honours.
For Betty, it’s the family and community connection the sport brings that has made her involvement so rewarding.
“It’s a huge honour, I appreciate that they recognised darts as a worthy occupation to have, which I thought it really important,” she said.
“It all started as a family thing with my parents and nine siblings, we all played in a town called Wooroloo on a dartboard on a back of a door.”
“When I turned 21 a team said come and play, and here I am 62 years later still playing and involved in administration. It just became a way of life for me.”
Upon receiving this honour, Betty admits she’s not all about the spotlight, but was satisfied to have her contribution as a darts administrator recognised.
“I’m not a person to be on centrestage, but when I thought about it, it’s not just Betty Hislop, it’s about ‘Betty Hislop Darts’ and that made it worthwhile.”
“When you’ve been involved for many years, it’s very satisfying to see the award is not just about me, but the sport I’m involved in.”
Along the journey Betty has met many people who have made her attachment to the sport so worthwhile, with family playing a pivotal part in this.
“I have met so many great people along the journey, my family is important to me, it really is a family thing and there’s not just one person who has been a big part of it, because it’s been so many as a collective.”
“It’s a great family sport and I encourage families to get involved, you have plenty of associations on offer, there’s no reason why you can’t play in family teams.”
“It’s also great for the youngsters to learn with the mathematics involved, and an amazing way to help young people coming through.”
Check out Betty’s darts resume here: