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Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @vivad. It's fantastic to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about painting Dado walls.
I'd suggest you start by giving the timber a light sand with 240-grit sandpaper to remove any glossy surface. You can then fill and repair any dents or damage that aren't aesthetically pleasing. This can be done with a timber putty filler and a scraper. Once you've filled the damaged areas, you can sand them back smoothly and flush with the surrounding surface. Give the wall a good clean to remove dust and then use a specialised primer like Dulux Max Adhesion to prepare the surface for painting. This product is designed for difficult-to-paint services like previously varnished timber. When the primer is dry, you'll be able to paint the wall with a water-based enamel paint which will give you a fantastic finish. I suggest using a fine nap roller to achieve the best result.
You'll likely find it easiest to use a fine brush to paint the v-grooves in the panelling first before rolling the primer and paint. This is because the roller won't be able to get into the grooves.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
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