Peter was introduced to the game of darts as young boy when his father had a dartboard hanging behind the kitchen door.
Moving to Canberra from Mentone Victoria in 1962 Peter decided to attend the Australian National University and obtain an Arts/Economics degree which he did part time. Even in those days a single income to support a young family was no joke. Prior to moving to Canberra Peter had been a professional sprinter so it was not surprising that he took to umpiring Australian Rules football every Saturday to augment his salary and stay fit.
With his studies coming to an end Peter sought relaxation at the local "Yowani Golf Club". This club was in its raw beginnings and operated from a large shed. Peter was soon elected to their social committee and held the position of Club Secretary at the time the new club was built. It was during this time that Peter again became involved in darts.
Showing a keenness for the game Peter was approached to be a club delegate to the A.C.T. Darts Council meetings when the usual delegate could not attend. It was only a short time later that Peter secured his first official position in Darts Organisation as head of the Match Committee in Canberra.
The year 1971 saw Canberra host the Australasian Darts Championships and Peter elected to Vice-President of the A.C.T. Darts Council. In the following year Peter succeeded Ken Gillard as President.
Whilst in New Zealand in 1973 Peter saw the first independently run darts club in his experience. This was the commencement of his dream to establish a network of independent clubs in Australia. In 1978 the A.C.T. Darts Club became a fully licensed club, operated by voluntary staff until it was affluent enough to employ a regular Bar Manager. This club is still in existence and is now based within the Canberra Labor Club.
1979 was sad year for the Championships in Australia as it was the last year that New Zealand were eligible to participate. The Federal Government conditions governing sports grants had been changed to only support uniquely Australian Championships. It was prior to the holding of these Championships that Peter felt that our sport was worthy of prestigious representation and received the agreement of the Governor General of Australia Sir Zelman Cowan to open the 1979 Australasian Championships. Since that time our sport has honoured by the officiation of many distinguished guests including Sir Ninian and Lady Stephen, Sir Joh Belkje Petersen, Lord Mayor Sally-Ann Atkinson and Premier of South Australia John Bannon to name a few.
With the disbanding of the Australasian Championships, 1980 saw the inaugural Australian Championships held in Newcastle and the formation of the 1st Pacific Cup where Peter's overseas experience surfaced. He believed a fairer result could be obtained by playing in sets and this new format was first played in the Pacific Cup in Australia.
Peter has always fostered darts and particularly encouraged Juniors. He had coached junior darts on a regular basis for several years and been Captain/Manager of the representative teams in the formative years.
In 1981 Peter was honoured by being made a life member of the A.C.T. Darts Council and again in 1988 when the first life membership of the Darts Federation of Australia was bestowed on him.
ON THE WORLD DARTS SCENE
The first World Cup was held in Wembley Centre, London in 1979 where Peter was delegate and Captain of the Australian Team. This was the forerunner of a new adventure on the McMenamin calendar of life.
Peter's record of achievements at world darts level reads for itself.
1977 World Cup I England - Delegate/Captain
1979 World Cup II America - Delegate/Captain
1980 W.D.F. A.G.M. England - Elected Vice President W.D.F.
1983 World Cup IV Scotland - Elected President W.D.F.
1986 American Darts Organisation - Guest speaker 10th Birthday Las Vegas
ON THE AUSTRALIAN SCENE
From 1971 until the present time Peter has attended every Australasian and Australian Championship held in New Zealand and Australia. In South Australia during the 1975 Australasian Championships Peter was elected as Vice President of the Australasian Darts Council and became President one year later when the Championships where held in Perth.
By the early 1980's he was holding the positions of President, World Darts Federation; President Darts Federation of Australia; President A.C.T. Darts Council; President A.C.T. Darts Club.
Because we had players of international standing in Australia, Peter was very keen to see our country able to participate in the World Ranking points system. He gained sponsorship from the Canberra Labor Club and F.A.I. Insurance Company to launch the annual Australian Grand Masters tournament.
Having been overseas and on the alert for new happenings Peter was impressed with the interest shown by television studios there, and after much negotiation with the A.B.C. the first televising of our top players at battle eventuated in 1981.
Peter had aspirations of being a great dart player but somehow administration got in the way and in 1986 he was the recipient of the Canberra Times Award for dedication to sport.
Peter was a chronic asthmatic and often has breathing difficulty, but some magic darts chemistry always allowed him to deliver a perfect speech from the podium. Peter is noted for his forthright comment. If praise is due he'll give it, if he feels you are wrong then you'll quite definitely know that too. Peter was an economist with the Public Service for 35 years and retired on 7 July 1988 so he could register his own darts business appropriately called Peter Mac's". Other more adventurous enterprises followed.
