BETTY Hislop has been playing competition darts for almost 57 years.
The 77-year-old president of Darts Western Australia is one of the state’s longest-serving volunteers, and was recently honoured for her volunteer efforts in the sport and for helping advance the status of West Australian women in sport.
Betty, from Greenfields, was one of 140 volunteers to receive the state government’s Volunteer Service Awards badge. Volunteers qualify for the award when they have served one organisation continuously for 25 or 50 years.
“Betty is an outstanding example of a West Australian who has dedicated many years to their passion and she exemplifies the WA tradition of volunteering,” said Seniors and Volunteering Minister Tony Simpson.
“Not only does Betty excel at the sport she loves, but she is now passing that passion on to the next generation. “She has done a tremendous amount, not only for the sport of darts but in encouraging people, particularly young people, to get involved in the community.”
Betty began playing darts at home with her parents and nine siblings, and first took part in competitions at age 21. She has captained the WA ladies’ darts team in 40 consecutive Australian championships.
And Betty is not alone in her love of the game. Her daughter and granddaughter followed her into darts and now her 14-year-old great-granddaughter Dakota Van Vugt makes four generations of Hislop women participating in the game.
“To me the award recognised the sport of darts as a good sport played by all ages,” Betty said. “While my main role is darts administration, I still play weekly competition and this coming season will be my 57th year in the sport.
“Darts is a family sport and most competitions are held in rooms in clubs, which are well away from bar areas.”
As The Senior went to press Betty was in South Australia with the state under-18s dart team (Dakota is a member), which was competing in the Junior Australian Championships.
At the time of writing the girls had set a cracking pace, winning gold in the fours and the team had picked up a silver and bronze in the boys’ and girls’ doubles.
Other recipients of the WA Volunteer Service Award badge for 50 years of service include: Mary Cash, Southern Districts Netball Association; Raymond Armstrong, Scouts WA; Heather Booth, Red Cross City Beach Unit; Beverley Buswell, Palmyra Rebels Netball Club; Meg Loveland, Red Cross; Tess Passmore, Soroptimist International; and John Ree, St John Ambulance WA.
