 Born in New Brighton, in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand, he was one of the "New Zealand Cricket Almanack" Players of the Year for 1955.With 366 runs at an average of 45.75, he was the highest scorer in the Plunket Shield in the 1954-55 season.Dowker was also a successful football player and won the 1945 Chatham Cup with Western AFC.