Dot fondly recalls her own 28-year tenure at Woolworths, starting in 1964 as a checkout operator at the Blacktown store on Main Street, NSW, and working her way up to service supervisor and area trainer for the front end. “It was just like working with your family. I did a lot of organising of social events and Christmas parties for the team and everyone knew each other. It really was a good place to work.”

All five of Dot’s kids followed her lead. “We all started as 15-year-olds at Woolworths and so did nearly most of our street,” says Robert’s sister Leanne, who worked in store for 15 years. “All of the kids on our street used to come knocking on the door to ask Mum for a job!”