Made In Lithgow

If you've spent any time in Lithgow over the past 20 years—or anywhere on the internet—you've probably heard the name Top Dawg. But who is the man behind the music? In this episode of Made in Lithgow, Brad Cluff and Ian "Legend" Iddles sit down with lifelong mate Ean "Top Dawg" Griffiths for one of the most honest and heartfelt conversations we've had. From growing...

For our milestone 50th episode, we sit down with former Deputy Premier of New South Wales and Member for Bathurst, Paul Toole MP, for a deep dive into one of the biggest issues facing Lithgow and the Central West. As Mt Victoria Pass reaches 100 days of closure, frustration continues to grow across the region. Businesses are reporting significant losses, tourism operators are feeling the impact, f...

In this episode of Made in Lithgow, we sit down with Laura and Holly Vatalis — two of the driving forces behind The Blue Fox, The Fast Fox, Fast Fox Portland, and soon, Cubs. Behind it all is their mum, Kat — the matriarch of the family and the steady force that helped bring it all to life. What started as a short-term move turned into a decade of building businesses, backing each other, and becom...

In this episode of Made in Lithgow, Brad Cluff and Ian Iddles sit down with Dr Foty Loupos, Principal of Lithgow High School. Dr Loupos has one of the most unique journeys into education leadership you’ll hear. His career has spanned hospitality management, security and investigations, counselling, teaching, and academia — culminating in a PhD exploring the metaphysics of leadership. In this wide-...

In this episode of Made in Lithgow, we sit down with 2026 Wallerawang Citizen of the Year, Andrew “Wardy” Ward — a man who has spent more than four decades shaping community sport in Wallerawang and the wider Lithgow region. From his apprenticeship at the iconic Lithgow Small Arms Factory to pulling on the jersey for the Wallerawang Warriors, coaching junior sides, refereeing, managing teams, and...

In this episode of Made in Lithgow, Brad Cluff and Ian Iddles sit down with Chris Wade, Manager of PCYC Lithgow and the 2024 PCYC NSW Manager of the Year. Chris shares his journey from retail and hardware into youth development, and how PCYC Lithgow has become a hub of opportunity, belonging and leadership for young people across the region. From gymnastics and futsal to archery, school holiday pr...

This episode of Made in Lithgow is about one decision — and the ripple effect it creates. We sit down again with Rich Evans, not to talk about projects or achievements, but to tell the full story of what it means to wait for an organ transplant — and to survive one. Rich speaks openly about: Preparing for death more than survival Waiting months while his body failed and time ran out Getting the ca...

This final episode of Made in Lithgow for 2025 is a reflection on what happens when you slow down and actually listen. Recorded just days before Christmas, Brad and Ian look back on a year of conversations that revealed consistent themes across Lithgow and the wider region — resilience without noise, belonging over ambition, service over ego, and a town quietly navigating change without rejecting...

In this episode of  Made in Lithgow , Brad and Ledge sit down with Bree and Kayla — the unstoppable sister duo behind  Pretty Party People , fresh from winning the  2025 LDCC Excellence in Micro Business Award  for the second time. From humble beginnings in their mum and dad’s dining room to becoming the goto balloon stylists and event designers across Lithgow, Bathurst and the Blue Mountains, the...

Born in a small Canadian town and now a very well-respected community figure,  Jane Fenton  has lived a story that feels like a movie — filled with love, resilience, and a deep sense of belonging. In this heartfelt episode of  Made in Lithgow , Jane shares her incredible journey from  Toronto to Wallerawang , how she met her husband  Paul  on the  Great Ocean Road , and the life-changing moment sh...

In this episode of Made in Lithgow , Brad and Ledge sit down with Kelly Hamilton — a South Bowenfels-born powerhouse blending country soul and rock grit. Kel opens up about her journey from Lithgow’s live pub scene to fronting her own band Sidecar and sharing stages with Aussie icons like Darryl Braithwaite , Amber Lawrence , and The Radiators . But just as her music career was taking off, a surgi...

In this episode of Made in Lithgow, Brad and Ledge slow things right down — sort of. They’re joined by Shell from Wollemi Wellbeing, a Lithgow local who grew up running barefoot through State Mine Gully, trained in yoga and meditation in Rishikesh, India, and came home to help her community find balance in a noisy world. What follows is classic Made in Lithgow: A mix of heartfelt storytelling, hil...

In this episode of Made in Lithgow , Brad and Legend sit down with Steve from Lithgow Oberon Landcare , a man who has literally rolled up his sleeves to heal country and community. From restoring creeks and tackling invasive weeds to building habitat corridors for Gang-Gang Cockatoos and leading citizen-science frog monitoring, Steve shares the challenges and rewards of regenerating landscapes acr...

In this episode of Made in Lithgow, we chat with Tallan Egan — son of proud Lithgow locals Kyle and Jo Egan — about his incredible journey from the Lithgow Storm and Workies fields to the Western Rams, into the One NZ Warriors development system, and now his signing with the Newcastle Knights Jersey Flegg squad. - Tallan shares the reality of chasing the NRL dream: - Long training days and intense...

In this episode of Made in Lithgow , Brad and Ian sit down with Dan , CEO of the Zig Zag Railway —an icon of Lithgow, NSW and one of the most important pieces of railway heritage in Australia. From its origins in the 1860s as an engineering marvel connecting Sydney to the west, to its rebirth as a heritage railway after devastating fires, the Zig Zag represents resilience, innovation, and communit...

From Lithgow to the world stage: journalist and podcaster Lisa Mclean has covered everything from Prince Andrew and Epstein to Vanderpump scandals — but nothing has captivated the nation like the Mushroom Murder Trial. Lisa sat inside the courtroom, tracked Erin Patterson’s lies, and brings us first-hand insight into one of Australia’s most shocking crimes — a Sunday lunch that ended in tragedy, t...

What do you get when you mix a butcher’s apron, a drum kit, a long bus ride to Blue Mountains Grammar, and a love for Lithgow? You get Blake Edgell – musician, family man, and one of the region’s leading real estate agents. In this episode of Made in Lithgow, Brad and Legend take a trip down memory lane with Blake — from late-night gigs with Wide Load, to meeting his childhood sweetheart Kate, to...

In this episode of Made in Lithgow , Ian and Brad sit down with Brad’s parents, Robert and Linda Cluff —the visionary couple behind a hospitality powerhouse that started as Black Gold Cabins , evolved into Black Gold Motel , and is now simply known as Black Gold . What they’ve built isn’t just a business. It’s a beacon of possibility—rising from the bones of the decommissioned Wallerawang Public S...

In this episode of Made in Lithgow, we explore the fascinating story of Phil Evans, a Lithgow local who is making waves in the world of CrossFit. Despite suffering from debilitating health issues, Phil transformed his life through fitness, mindset, and nutrition, leading him to qualify #21 at the CrossFit Games in Ohio. Listeners will hear about his upbringing in the cold climate of Lithgow, his c...

What happens when a retail veteran and her ambitious daughter trade the chaos of Sydney for the charm of Lithgow? In this episode, we sit down with Lara and Paris Hall, the powerhouse pair behind TWIG boutique and a rising real estate career. From Ironfest epiphanies to raising kids and reshaping Main Street, their journey is a heartfelt tale of risk, resilience, and regional opportunity. We dive...

Born, bred & raised in Lithgow, Makenzie Denley is shaping the future from the ground up—literally. As an Environmental & Community Officer at Centennial Coal, she’s one of the youngest and most grounded voices in the mining and energy conversation. In this wide-ranging episode, Makenzie shares what it’s like to grow up in a changing regional town, navigate online university, work in a mal...

In Episode 30 of Made in Lithgow, Brad and Legend go guest-free to reflect on the stories shaping their hometown. This candid conversation covers everything from a huge maintenance shutdown at Mt Piper. Black Gold’s rise to the global top 1% on TripAdvisor, broken lookouts, blocked roads, and tourism potential bursting at the seams. They spotlight local legends making waves in sport, share the beh...

Ben Houlison’s journey is everything Made in Lithgow stands for — resilience, purpose, and the strength of community. After a life-altering mining accident in his early twenties, Ben was stripped back to bare basics — but never alone. Surrounded by the love and support of his entire family — including his parents Geoff and Robyn, brother Matt,, sister Amanda, and eventually the love of his life, G...

From the basketball courts of Lithgow to the Australian Army and into boardrooms across the nation, Scott Simcoe has spent a lifetime mastering structure, leadership, and clear communication. In this episode of Made in Lithgow , we uncover the story behind Message Train — the regional business delivering custom, large-scale, immersive digital training to some of Australia’s biggest companies and g...

What do you get when you cross two third-generation Italo-Aussies, a tonne of work ethic, a few pallets of tomatoes, and a national TV appearance? You get Frank Capamola and Frank Inzitari—the brains behind the Fire Halo, and the hearts behind some of Lithgow’s most iconic family-run businesses. In this episode, we dive deep into the post-war immigrant grit that shaped their families’ arrival in L...