From Auckland, Dervan was selected on the 1912 New Zealand tour of Australia.
[citation needed] Dervan was heavily involved in boxing in Auckland and was the official announcer for events for over 20 years.
Dervan died suddenly at the age of 60 on 18 April 1944.
He had been attending the boxing at the Town Hall the night before (on his 60th birthday) as a spectator when he began feeling unwell.
Dervan was survived by his wife Ivy May Derwan (nee Hodgson), daughter, and son.