Industry equipment sales veteran Steve Dunwell said goodbye to print colleagues, customers and friends at Banjo Patterson’s restaurant last night.

Calling time on a 40 year career Dunwell reflected that ‘it is all about the people’, and paid tribute to several influential figures in his working life, including former Rural Press managing director John Parker who was at the event, his long-time assistant Allison Whitelaw, his wife Carol, and reserving special praise for the sales people he has worked with over the years.

[Related: Dunwell to retire from print]

Dunwell acknowledged his good fortune in working with leading brands during his career, including Harris, Scitex, Creo, HP Indigo and manroland. However as speakers including Fairfax group print and distribution director Bob Lockley pointed out, Dunwell’s character played a major role in him getting the agencies and jobs.

Many of the leading lights in Australian print were at the event, including Lindsay Hannan and Craig Dunsford from IPMG, former PMP chief Brian Evans, Paul Selig, Warwick Hay and Phil Taylor from IVE, Lockley from Fairfax, Geoff Booth from News, Charles and Sam Hanna from Hannapack and Paul Viegel from GPIA.

Dunwell says, “It has been a fantastic journey. I have worked with some great customers, suppliers and staff. I wish you all the best for the future."

Also present were manroland Australasia former sheetfed manager, Dennis Wickham, who becomes the new managing director, and Andreas Schwoepfinger, the new director of technical services, as well as Tim Huth, manroland board member.

Dunwell’s final day is Friday.

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