Dermod McMorrough Kavanagh was born in Ireland around 1860 to James William and Anne Kavanagh. When he came to New Zealand is unclear, although it may have been with his brother Arthur, who arrived about 1880. During the 1880s Dermod lived in Stoke, working as an ironmonger, while Arthur became headmaster of Stoke School.
Dermod married Louisa Emily Rout in 1887 at Wakefield. Louisa was the daughter of William and Harriett Rout of Nelson, who arrived in the settlement in 1853. Her father served as treasurer of the Provincial Council from 1873 until the abolition of the provinces and was a driving force behind the Permanent Building Society of Nelson.
Soon after marrying, the couple moved to Riwaka and purchased the store owned by Patrick de Lacey Maddigan. In April 1887 Dermod was appointed postmaster of the Riwaka Post Office, a role he approached with seriousness and dedication.
Reports of larrikin behaviour near the post office surfaced in October 1895 when someone placed two half telegraph poles across the road, creating a dangerous obstacle for approaching traps.
The following year Dermod was entrusted with collecting subscriptions in the Riwaka district for the sufferers of the Brunner Mine disaster.
A devastating fire destroyed the post office and store in June 1900. While most store goods and the mail were saved, the couple lost their furniture, valuables and personal possessions, with the exception of a piano. As the alarm was raised, the congregation from the nearby church rushed to help salvage items but were unable to fight the flames. An investigation determined the fire started in a storeroom at the back of the main building.
Dermod acted quickly to maintain services. A temporary post office was established across the road at Mr Cederman’s, while the store continued operating from buildings belonging to Mr Chittenden. A new post office and store were later built.
Dermod was so dedicated to his work that he did not take his first holiday until early 1915, by which time he had been postmaster for about 28 years. His second holiday was in 1930, when he and Louisa visited the North Island after 43 years working in the store and post office. By then Dermod was recognised as one of the oldest members of the non-permanent staff of the Post and Telegraph Department.
Louisa died in March 1931 aged 74 and was buried in Riwaka Cemetery. In 1933 Dermod remarried, to Margaret Forrester, but he died the following December. He was also buried in Riwaka Cemetery.
