Otago netball's oldest life member made good on that pledge but the 97-year-old is quite a character.
Byers, a star guest at the centenary celebrations this weekend, has been involved with netball in Otago at some level for past 87 years.
She got her start in the sport - then a nine-a-side game - as a 10-year-old and went on to represent the province from 1939 to 1941.
World War 2, getting married and starting a family brought an end to her playing career, but Byers remained involved as an umpire and an administrator.
She served as secretary of the Otago Basketball Association, which later became known as the Otago Netball Association, from 1955 to 1972.
''I loved it,'' she said.
''You do it all voluntarily and you do it because of the love of the game. I enjoyed every minute of it.
''With a committee like I had, you could not go wrong. You'd be at the courts on a Saturday.
''At a meeting on Monday. Type the minutes on the Tuesday and then get them into the Otago Daily Times by a certain time.''
Her favourite memories were of the camaraderie she experienced.
''I appreciated that. I had a president who was really wonderful -Rena Mackenzie - and she helped me over quite a few little stumbles.''
Byers' role at last night's centennial function was mostly ceremonial.
''I'm going to help cut the cake. I might put it [the knife] in crooked,'' she said with a chuckle.
Byers, a defender in her playing days, is partially blind but she was not planning on letting that stop her attending today's big game between the Steel and the Pulse at the Edgar Centre.
''I'm sort of getting oldish. I get quite tired and too much excitement makes me snooze.''
Her peripheral vision is her stronger suit so she joked about sitting sideways.
But she was serious about who would win today's game.
''The Steel, of course.''
