JIM STILL HAS HIS EYE ON GOALS

BEING on the ball is something at which Durban's Jim Ormshaw always excelled in his younger years.

This longtime resident of Montclair played for junior national baseball and softball teams when in his teens, but it was as a soccer player that he most impressed, going on to spend six years as an AmaZulu soccer player, under the wing of renowned coach Clive Barker.

Furthermore, Jim's son, Garath, followed in his dad's footsteps and junior's football skills were heralded in the UK. But more about all that later...

These days Jim is 62 and although he may have quit soccer at the age of 30, he still has his eye on good tactics and goals - now as the principal of the new Montclair franchise of the Dormehl Phalane Property Group (DPPG).

The branch unfurled its blue-and-white banners on October 23 at its office at 109 Montclair Road, the spot where Jim spent many years in real estate as head of Ryder Ormshaw Estates.

Jim and the youngest of his two brothers, Wayne, are chief property practitioners at the Dormehl Phalane Montclair branch, where Jim's wife Vanessa ("Call me Vee") is secretary. Five more agents are expected to soon join this team, which will cover residential sales for DPPG in Montclair, Woodlands, Woodhaven and Yellowwood Park.

A New Forest High School alumnus, Jim has known DPPG head, Owen Dormehl, for decades and in two recent meetings with him made up his mind to become part of Dormehl's nationwide real estate family.

"It became clear that Owen is totally driven and committed to his brand. Also, the number of offices linked to this brand speaks for itself. Once we committed to DPPG, Owen became relentless in his endeavours to assist and guide us in getting up and running as soon as possible."

Jim has had a career in real estate for more than 30 years, following a decade of working for Standard Bank, where he did various jobs, He was head of the Foreign Exchange Department at the Florida Road branch in Durban when he left in 1990.

"It was not for me, being confined to an office all day long," he explains about leaving the bank, adding that he joined Montclair's Webster Estates (now defunct) in 1990. He did so because "All my life, I had dealt with people ... and I saw this as an opportunity to make my own destiny".

It was while working there that he and fellow agent, Keith Ryder, became good friends and decided to team up to start Ryder Ormshaw Estates.

"We opened for business in December 1993, renting premises in Montclair Mall. We started off with two agents then grew to six, plus a secretary. Then, when Montclair Mall extended we moved to a bigger office there and added another agent".

In 1997, Keith emigrated to New Zealand and Jim became the sole owner of Ryder Ormshaw Estates. In 2011, Jim and Wayne bought the house at 109 Montclair Road and converted it into offices that they still occupy today.

Wayne, now 52 and married with two sons, has been an agent with Jim, a father of four, since 1998. Interestingly, Wayne also worked at Standard Bank before joining the world of real estate.

Durban-born Vanessa has been Jim's secretary for 23 years. The two have known each other since their early teens, says Jim, adding: "I was previously married and got divorced in 1990. Then I met up again with Vanessa and we got married in February 1992".

Jim has held a Fidelity Fund Certificate since 1990 and a Principal FFC Certificate since 1993. He has been a member of Multi Listing Services, Network Listing Services and Shared Listing Service, the latter of which he formed and chaired since inception. He relinquished membership in 2022 to concentrate on his own business.
Jim's views on the SA property market in general?

"There is business out there. However, a lot of people are competing for the same business. If the powers that be can keep the interest rates stable, as well as stabilise fuel costs, then, hopefully, the property market will continue to get better."
He believes a good agent is made by "hard work and due diligence. They are recipes for success in any business, but the most important attributes for any agent are honesty and integrity".
Wayne agrees: "Be honest in your dealings with clients and show compassion where needed".
Now, let's get back to Jim's past sporting successes... he played for Ramblers FC throughout his junior years; made the Natal Schools and Natal Clubs U16 teams as captain; and played in the Senior Currie Cup teams in 1983 and 1984. He recalls that he joined Clive Barker at Bush Bucks in 1995 and won the inaugural Castle League Cup with Bush Bucks.
"I then followed Clive to AmaZulu in 1996 and spent six years at the club, retiring from professional football at the age of 30. I played at right-back as an amateur, and as centre-back as a professional".
His baseball achievements include playing for South Africa U13, U16 and U19. He toured to Germany and Belgium with the SA U19 team ("which had to be called the Texan Saints then, due to sanctions at the time").
Softball achievements included playing for Natal Clubs U16 and U21. And there's more ... Jim also represented KwaZulu-Natal Light Tackle Boat Angling from around 2000 to 2015.
Jim's son, Garath, now in his 40s, achieved more than his father in his soccer career: "He was signed as a 16-year-old goalkeeper by Crystal Palace in England; winning the Youth FA Cup with Crystal Palace. He also sat on the senior team bench at Old Trafford against Manchester United, as well as against Arsenal a year later.
"Crystal Palace was relegated the following year and Garath was released (last in, first out) and returned to SA. He transferred down to Cape Town and had a successful season with Ajax Cape Town. He was then signed by Hellenic FC, then AmaZulu. His last club was Golden Arrows."
Unfortunately, Garath received a career-ending ankle injury while playing for Golden Arrows.
Away from the property world how do Jim and Vee relax and unwind?
"A fishing trip to Port St John is always welcome," says Jim. "Vee also enjoys mosaic work and crafting... and I refurbish old fishing rods, so when doing a valuation on a home I always look in the rafters of outbuildings, where most old fishing rods are stored," he says.