Michael Edmund Dormer (1937–2021)
Willows Assistant Groundsman (1994–2020)
Variously described as “a force of nature” or “the Napoleon of North Canterbury” Mike Dormer brought to all his dealings a wonderful blend of vision, charm, determination and obstinacy all the while adhering to the Christian principles of fairness and kindness.
He was, after all, a wicketkeeper, leaving the limelight to others, but quietly and skilfully directing the flow and pace of projects from behind the stumps — unnoticed, but undenied.
As Willowers, we know of the success of our piece of paradise in Loburn with its 592 matches over 27 seasons involving 370 school XIs, but what many may not realise was that Mike was aged 57 when The Willows Cricket Club was launched. He had already completed a lifetime of achievements, but cricket was in his DNA and along with a never-ending list of projects, charities, businesses and individuals that needed nurturing, now was the time to roll the sleeves higher up the arm, not buttoned down (with cuff links of course) around the wrists.
Mike was born in Lower Hutt to Ruby and Orm Dormer to a household built on church, family, friends, being smartly dressed, and sport. Oh how the foundations determine the shape of a building.
Although living in Wellington and his father a staunch Wellington College old boy, a full house with both sets of grandparents living in the family home meant Mike went to secondary school at Nelson College as a boarder, where, unsurprisingly, he excelled. Able to work hard at his studies and even harder at his sport, he made the 1st XI as a fifth former and was captain the following year. For his seventh form year he was asked to be head prefect and captain of both the 1st XI and 1st XV, but work and family took precedence and he did not return to school for his final year.
Successfully mixing work, his accountancy studies, cricket and rugby plus a full social life, he continued to excel at cricket, twice being picked in the New Zealand Brabin Shield team (Under-19) as part of a strong Wellington side, alongside lifetime friend and well-known journalist Spiro Zavos.
A move to Auckland proved pivotal in moulding Mike’s life. The cricket continued with inclusion in the Auckland representative side, the social scene went up a notch, but most important of all, an introduction to the Fisher family, where he trained as an in-house accountant. At the behest of Lou Fisher, Mike went abroad to learn more about business. While on a stop-over in Cairo, in true Mike fashion, he met a person who in conversation gave him an introduction that led Mike to join the Electrolux company on his arrival in London. While Electrolux was not a household name at that time, Mike was soon jetting about the globe as well as all over England.
Even in these heady times, cricket remained front and centre, with an enduring highlight being part of the London New Zealand team that played the touring New Zealand side at The Oval, in 1965, and keeping wicket to the great England off-spin bowler Jim Laker, who remains the only bowler in history to take 19 wickets in a test.
In the early 1970s Mike was sent to Adelaide to set up the national distribution for Flymo, inventors of the world’s first hover mower. He was responsible for their marketing programme. Having met Winsome Edgar in Sydney in 1972, Mike left Flymo to take a position in Sydney as the Marketing Manager of Comalco. The couple were married in St Barnabas Christchurch on 3rd February 1973 and then returned to live in Neutral Bay, Sydney.
With the enormous rise in home unit buildings on the North Shore, Michael seized the opportunity and developed Edgar Home Unit Administration, a highly successful business managing hundreds of blocks.
Approached by a keen buyer and with the imminent arrival of his first child, Michael sold this business and the couple moved to Christchurch to be closer to family. This was 1977 and challenging times to be in business. With a young family to support, Mike, with his singular determination, again quickly settled into his business stride. ME Dormer Management Services was born out of opportunities to assist companies to adapt to the changing business environment. Many local companies benefited and lifelong friendships were established.
At this time his association with Independent Fisheries began and involved many business trips around the world with joint ventures and fish trading. Whether it was in Russia, Korea, Japan, China, Chile and India, they were able to achieve deals that worked for all parties. It was the Independent Fisheries way, and it was done with fairness and kindness.
Home life was as busy as work for Mike during the 1980s and into the 1990s. The same zeal that Mike invested in his school work and sport was passed to sons Peter and Ben — give everything 100%, help others, focus the weekend on sport with church and family time on Sunday.
By the end of the century, and with both sons following their separate paths of construction and study, new challenges awaited. These included a massive national fundraising campaign for the Salvation Army leading to the Brothers in Arms initiative which promoted the work of the Salvation Army in 75 secondary schools in the South Island. Because youth was always a focus for Mike the Canterbury Youth Development Programme was next on the radar. This Trust provided opportunities and support for young people and their families. Mike, from the old school, could see how the NZ Army, and its emphasis on discipline and respect, could help these young people and was instrumental in the CYDP establishing a close relationship with them and the Burnham Military Camp. Many graduates from CYDP are thankful to the programme for getting their lives back on track.
The Willows and secondary school cricket will forever be the jewel in Mike’s crown. During the late 2010s and into 2020 Mike, with his never-say-die attitude, had been a constant drum in the ear of New Zealand Cricket about the need for more coaching support for secondary schools. As his innings drew to an end, New Zealand Cricket has acknowledged this omission and has indicated that it will be one of their priority areas in the ongoing development of community cricket.
The Willows has lost a marquee player, but the game is bigger than the individual and while one batsman (never a batter) heads back to the pavilion, the rest of the batting order awaits. Ben is next man in and already he is planning his innings, having been nurtured by, and watched, the WG Grace of Loburn for so long. Winsome also has plans to further elevate The Willows experience, both, as always, supported by Peter.
In a letter to the family, Merrill J Fernando, founder and former CEO of Dilmah Tea said: “Mike’s loss to his family, relatives, friends, well-wishers and to New Zealand, will be felt for several generations. I lost my greatest friend outside Sri Lanka. May his soul rest in peace in the arms of his Maker. Such men are no more.”
Michael, rest in peace (if that is possible) and always, always remember to Play in the V.
— John Durning, a Willower, is a triple PR industry award winner with three decades in media and public relations.