A tall, handsome man who made his mark as a successful farmer and businessman, Jim was a loyal and devoted husband, father, brother, uncle and friend.

He died at Dubbo Hospital on August 5 and will be sorely missed. He was 87.

James Oliver Richard Dormer was born at Newnes, a shale mining community in the Wolgan Valley, on January 28, 1929.

He was the only son of James Patrick Dormer and his English wife Hettia Simms. Jim had three older sisters.

James Patrick was a veteran of World War I who had travelled all over the world in the merchant navy. He was a great supporter of the Labor party and was renowned for giving prime minister Ben Chifley a bag of potatoes to help with his election campaign.

Young Jim was captivated by the stories his father told, the countries he had visited and the political views that were a passion.

Jim did not attend the local school and was educated at home until about grade five when he was required to pull his weight on the family farm.

At 17 Jim left home to join the Department of Main Roads. He worked as a driver on the Bells Line of Road and was in camp at Mount Victoria and later at Bowenfels.

Life changed in a big way when he met Marion Sherriff in Portland. They married in 1948 and took up residence at Lidsdale before moving to western NSW when Jim obtained the job of manager at Collie Station. The journey was made in a 1942 Ford utility with some bits and pieces of furniture and a box of chooks.

Jim and Marion raised a family at Collie Station before moving to their own property Buena Vista in 1966.

The mixed farming operation with wheat, sheep and a few cattle, was a success thanks to Jim's hard work and progressive thinking.

"Dad was always interested in the newest thing happening," daughter Chris Dormer said.

"He would talk to the agronomist at the Department of Agriculture and became one of the main growers of high-protein durum wheat, which was in demand for pasta.

"When wheat prices were not good, Dad investigated other crops and grew canary seed, which was quite innovative."

The coarse grass with shiny brown seeds was highly suitable for the dry conditions at Collie.

"Dad grew it for a company that would send its own specialised machinery to harvest the crop," Chris said.

"Dad was very interest in agri politics and was a conference delegate in Sydney. He liked to get things moving.

"One of his great achievements was the formation of a co-operative to build a grain growers' facility at Curban. It was a centralised operation where farmers would truck in their wheat for grading.

"It took a lot of work and a great many meetings to make the idea a reality. I can remember Dad arguing with the committee to ensure there were toilets for both men and women. The committee was trying to save money and wanted to have a toilet only for men. Dad insisted amenities were needed for the women who came to the facility. Dad won the battle and I thought he was very progressive."

Jim was involved in just about everything in the Collie district - he was captain of the bushfire brigade, a member of the school parents and citizens committee, played in the local cricket team and worked as a polling clerk when state and federal elections were held.

"Dad was very interested in politics and there were some very interesting discussions at our home because our mother had a totally different political view," Chris said.

"As children we heard both sides of politics. We were encouraged to voice our opinions and I'd have to say some of the family discussions were amazing.

"Dad was a progressive thinker and talker. He could tell a great yarn but always wanted to listen to what other people had to say.

"He was a great communicator and a voracious reader of newspapers, magazines and books. Dad was very supportive of our mother's interest in history and writing. He would drive her around for interviews and research and was very proud of the books she wrote."

In the late 1970s Jim was keen to have an off-farm investment to guard against the ups and downs of the rural industry.

Land was purchased in North Dubbo and Dormer's Hire was established in 1978.

"At that time there was no other hire company in Dubbo or anywhere in western NSW," Chris said. "Hiring machinery and equipment was a new concept and an open market. The business was very successful for Dad and my brother Tony.

"Buena Vista was sold in 1984. It was the first property in the Collie district to get $100 an acre. The price was unheard of at that time.

"Dormer's Hire went from strength to strength with Tony managing the business and Dad managing the workshop. Dad was very good with machinery and had always been meticulous about maintenance and servicing and keep equipment clean.

"Dad worked long hours, often seven days a week. In retirement he kept busy as a community transport driver and was recognised for long service as a Dubbo volunteer.

"Dad loved driving and talking to people and had always been willing to lend a helping hand. When we lived at Collie Station an old fellow would turn up on a push bike around the same time every year. He had no teeth and his pants were held up with rope. A swag and other stuff would be hanging off the bike.

"Dad would let him sleep in one of the huts and bring him some meat when he killed a sheep. Mum would go to the pantry to get him some tea and other necessities. Dad would give him odd jobs for a few days to give him some money to help him on his way.

"This old fellow wasn't the only one to get a helping hand. Dad was a self-made man who was very good at looking after those who were not as well off as he was." When elections were called Jim was always very involved. He took on the role of campaign manager during the years his friend Jim Curran was Member for Castlereagh.

"Dad would drive Jim around when he was campaigning," Chris said.

"He'd also act as driver when Neville Wran, Gough Whitlam and other important party figures came out to the western region to help with electioneering.

"Dad would take a few days off work and drive them in his Mercedes which was air conditioned and very comfortable. They would be talking all the way and Dad just loved it.

"One evening at a Mudgee motel Dad and Gough were spending some time together at the end of the evening. Over a drink Dad asked 'Well Gough, what really happening in 1975?' (referring to the controversial dismissal). "Gough answered 'I was surrounded by pissants'. Dad loved to tell that story."

Jim was enormously proud of his family and remained devoted to Marion when she suffered a series of strokes and spent 10 years in Dubbo Nursing Home.

Following Marion's death he moved to the Orana Gardens retirement complex. He later married Margo Anthony and enjoyed being part of an expanded family.

Jim is survived by Margo. He was the loving father and father-in-law of Christine and Andrew, Graham and Grace, Tony and Cheryl, Jaime and Roberta. He was the cherished grandfather of Corinna, Jasmine, Sarah, James, Harrison and Michael and an adored great-grandfather.

Jim was a great lover of Slim Dusty and a few of the country legend's songs will be played during a cremation service to be held at the Dubbo City Crematorium at 2pm on Monday (August 10).