In 1991, after having met and married his future Australian-born wife in his native Northern Italy, Paolo Serafin resolved to traverse the globe from his home city of Vicenza to her home city of Melbourne. Finding new lodgings in Carlton North, Paolo soon found an interest in that quaint little game of Australian Rules long, and in no time forged hardy links with the Carlton football team.

“At the time I didn’t even know what football was. I had no idea,” Paolo said. “But my new neighbour used to work at the club, and he’d talk to me about Carlton and encourage me to barrack for the sport and the team.”

In entering the doors of the main entrance to IKON Park, Paolo came armed with portrait photocards of four Carlton Premiership players of the 1940s – Jim Clark, Jack Conley, Jack Howell and Ron Savage – which he graciously donated to the club’s archive.

A caption in pencil on the reverse of the Clark photocard reads: “Bought in 1948 at the match Carlton v Essendon”.

The photocards, together with a 1951 Carlton Scholar’s Ticket, were for years in the keep of Paolo’s wife’s cousin, and recently forwarded to her. In the end, both him and his wife agreed that they’d be best served in a new home, the Carlton Football Club archive.

“It has been nice to see the names of these players beneath the Premiership cups here – Jim Clark’s for 1945 and ’47, and Jack Conley, Jack Howell and Ron Savage for ’47,” said Paolo, who was also a keen participant in one of the Club’s recent tours of the old ground.'

“I am sure that these photographs are now in good hands.”

If, like Paolo, you have an item or items of Carlton history that you would like to donate to the club’s archive, please contact tony.debolfo@carltonfc.com.au.