TIPPERSMeet the big

Sometimes when you wake up at 6am to get to work, and you’re in the passenger seat with Dad –it just really helps

Towering over his proud dad Dave Tipper, account manager at Dahlsens, is Ben Tipper. Dave isn’t short – so you can gather that Ben is a tall lad. To the left of Ben is his not so little brother Sam and sister Emma. This isn’t a Christmas photo – this is the Tipper family in their second home – Dahlsens Laverton.

As a young man growing up in Bairnsdale, Dave’s dad was a hairdresser, who did the hair of the fourth generation Dahlsens - Brian, Derek and Bill. Dave, an eager 14-year-old, wanted a job and was put on part-time in the original Dahlsens retail store in Bairnsdale. At that time, Dahlsens sold everything from timber to mens and ladies clothes, but it was the paint department where Dave had his first lick of experience on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings.

After 12-months Dave went full-time, and later moved to Melbourne when he was drafted with the Bulldogs. He says his passion for footy didn’t last and when his AFL journey ended he turned his talents to building materials. After 30 years as an account manager in the industry, Dave was happy to return to Dahlsens five years ago

“I was so impressed with Simon, sales manager at Dahlsens. When he said ‘We’re a big believer in celebrating the wins’ I sat up in my chair and went ‘Hang-on, you don’t ask for more and more and more?” he says.

“It’s just the stuff Dahlsens do, you know, wellness, gift-cards during