Vale Michael McDermott - First Grade Player No.255
St George Cricket Club | January 17, 2026
St George District Cricket Club is saddened to announce that Mick McDermott, 1st grade player No. 255 passed away on the 18th November, 2025 after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Despite just the one appearance in 1st Grade Mick had an illustrious and productive career for St George which also included 2nd Grade captaincy at a very young age.
Michael's potential was evident early when he made his Green Shield debut in the 71-72 season where he scored 190 runs in just 4 innings at an average of 63 with a highest score of 80 not out. He also claimed 7 wickets at 15.
The following season he played 3rd and 2nd grade as well as Poidevin Gray Shield (U21's).
He played his solitary game of 1st Grade in the season of 74-75. He enjoyed his most productive season in 75-76 where he scored two of his three grade centuries, 110 in 3rd Grade and 107* in 2nd Grade to finish with 435 runs for the season. Here's an extract for 2nd Grade from the Annual Report of that year. Michael McDermott, on occasions, displayed batting comparable with capabilities. Mick appears to be a shaky starter, however once his innings is under way he is capable of taking an attack apart. This was evident in a “better than even time” century scored against Gordon. This innings was witnessed by our former president Mr. Ted Adams, who said “It was one of the best innings he had ever seen in years”.
Between 74-75 and his final game for St George in 83-84 Mick mainly played 2nd and 3rd Grade where he finished with 1781 runs in 2nd Grade with two centuries and 1630 runs in 3rd Grade.
In all grades including Green Shield and Poidevin-Gray Shield Mick finished with 4134 runs at 24.90 as well as taking 50 wickets at 16.46.
Mick grew up around the Arncliffe area where he went to school at Kogarah Marist and played his Junior cricket for Arncliffe CC and spent his younger years in the nets at Arncliffe Park honing his game with fellow St George cricketers such as Mick Lang and Luke Orlavich. After cricket he maintained enjoyed many friendshisp with St George players including Kerry O’Keeffe.
Mick married Julie LeBrun in August 1982, and they had three children: Christopher (42), Jacqueline (39) and Michael Junior (35). In 1988, the McDermotts moved to Lismore, NSW where Mick quickly joined and excelled for the Lismore Cricket Club while working at the Department of Community Services. They moved back to Sydney in 1996, and later to Canberra in 2000 where they stayed for nearly 25 years. Mick held senior leadership roles across the Australian Taxation Office, Climate Energy Regulator and Department of Health. He was very proud grandfather ("Pa") to Jacqui's daughters Eliza (12) and Saphira (9). He and Julie made Canberra their home and they loved nothing more than spending time in their beautifully designed garden.
He lost Julie in September 2024 after an unexpected and valiant battle with stomach cancer; she was only 68. Mick succumbed to complications from bowel cancer on 18 November 2025; he would have been 70 on the 7th February 1956. He was cremated in a private ceremony on 4 December 2025, and a celebration of his life was held at Bradman Oval, Bowral, NSW on 23 December 2025. Mick frequently inspected the pitch at Bradman Oval, and the McDermott children hope to commission a seat there in his memory in 2026.
Mick had lived experience with Bipolar Disorder and suffered a stroke in 2017. Despite these challenges, he was endlessly positive. He was encouraging of men / blokes to seek out help for physical or mental health. Statistically, and unsurprisingly given his talent, he beat the odds of Stage 4 Bowel Cancer by nearly 3 years; most people do not survive the first year after diagnosis. He also survived because of the true grit of his beautiful wife, Julie, who became his full-time carer after the stroke.
Mick's message would be to go and get tested and if you feel like something isn't right, it's safer to get it checked out than not and make each day count.
We extend our deepest sympathies to Mick's family.
