Gartner played his junior rugby league for Belmore before joining Canterbury in 1956.
Gartner made 21 appearances for Canterbury in 1967 as the club reached the grand final after years of struggling on the field.
Gartner played on the wing in the 1967 NSWRL grand final as Souths took an early lead.
Canterbury then regained the lead to be ahead 8-5 until Canterbury hooker Col Brown tried a looping pass which was intended to find fullback Les Johns only for Souths player Bob McCarthy to intercept the ball and race away to score a try.
Gartner later became a life member of the club and was nominated for the Berries to Bulldogs 70 Year Team of Champions.