Lifestyle Ron Chapman:
What I 've Learned
A
fter painting for more than four decades, Ron Chapman has learned a thing or two. For new tradespeople, one of the best ways to learn and avoid making common mistakes is to pick the brains of an experienced person in your specific field. Sometimes, though, it can be challenging to pin busy tradies down or get the honest answers you’re looking for.
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Ron has been a self-employed painter for over 40 years now and, today, as a proud gay man, he runs a self-proclaimed “out and proud” Melbourne-based painting business that’s focused on repaint projects. Ron also likes to give back and help other painters find success. “I am the unofficial ‘tribe elder’ of several painting groups,” he says. “In particular, I’m involved with Likeminded Painters Australia.” Ron’s life story and his path to his current business set up has been an interesting and varied one. As he explains, “I began as a self-employed painter in 1976, when I was married to my wife Robyn and living in South Australia. However, after coming out with my first boyfriend, named Robin, in 1986, I relocated to Melbourne and have prospered ever since.