John Gartner was a fine printer and publisher, an author, a noted philatelist, and also collector of Australian banknotes and coins. He was born on 16 July 1914 and was largely self-educated, leaving school at fourteen for work following the death of his father. Gartner developed a strong interest in the history of typography and printing and was apprenticed at the Advocate where his father had been a linotype operator. Aged 17, Gartner bought a hand press and some fonts of type, and in 1937 acquired a platen press from which he set and printed his private press books, published under the imprint of The Hawthorn Press. Gartner had a strong collection of Australian bookplates. He also looked at the work of artists overseas and commissioned personal plates. He subsequently built an international collection with preference for artists who printed from wood. His initial searches were in Belgium and Holland.(http://www3.slv.vic.gov.au/latrobejournal/issue/latrobe-84/t1-g-t7.html) Stylised lion dressed in human clothes holding a koala bearSignature bottom right hand cornerbookplate, australian bookplate design award, keith wingrove memorial trust, printmaking

Lions Club banner, purple felt, attached to wooden rod, rod ends fitted and gold cord for hanging. Bottom of banner has gold fringe and Lions Club emblem in centre. A printed fabric patch has been hand sewn onto the bottom right hands side of the banner.On banner; Lions Club of Clunes Vic On fabric patch; International President Award 1983/1984lions club of clunes, banner, president award