’Til death do us part, darts...

MARGARET Wheeler has a strong tie with the sport of darts, a family connection almost.

FAMILY GAME: Margaret Wheeler has played darts for more than two decades having picked it from her family. Photo Keagan Elder / South Burnett Times. Picture: Keagan Elder

MARGARET Wheeler has a strong tie with the sport of darts, a family connection almost.

"My father died playing darts," she said.

"He died playing what he wanted."

Rather than staying well away from the sport, she has become further attached as a sign of respect and remembrance to her late father.

Now 73 years old, Wheeler first started to play at 50 years old when she thought she was at last the right age.

"I wanted my children to grow up before I started going out at night," she said.

Now Wheeler that no longer has to take care of her three children, most of her spare time is spent at the darts halls.

"I now play Monday night, Tuesday night, Thursday night and Sunday night," she said.

"Thursday is the worst one, sometimes we play until 11.30pm."

As one of the many ladies part of the South Burnett Darts Association, Wheeler revels in the competition of her male counterparts.

"It's good to play a man because you play better darts," she said.

Wheeler said the natural-borne competitive nature within men fired her up to help throw her best scores.

"Women tend to throw at the bottom of the board," she said.

"But we get down there in the end (of the game 501).

"I'm calm, cool and collected."

Wheeler has been able to break this trend of throwing lower scores by scoring the perfect 180 a number of times in the past.

"My first 180, I threw that in Warwick about 20 years ago," she said.

"I screamed and they thought I had a mouse crawl up my leg.

"I've only got four in my time."

Then in her prime, Wheeler made it into the Queensland over-45 team and played in her home town of Maryborough.

Unfortunately, she never won but said it was still an honour to play for her state.

To play a good game of darts, Wheeler said mindset was just as important as accuracy.

"I think if you're going to play good darts, you play good darts," she said.

In the earlier days of her life in darts Wheeler played in the pubs but since shifted to the designated halls.

As part of the South Burnett Darts Association, she has played in Gympie, Biggenden and Caboolture.

With more than 23 years experience in the sport, Wheeler has shown no signs of slowing down.

Her eyes still glint at the sight of the dartboard and the possibility of hitting another 180.

Wheeler said she wants to play to the end, like her father.

"It wouldn't worry me (dying while playing darts). It's a good way to go," she said.