You’ve heard of the pub with no beer but what about the beer with no pub? Once reduced to charred rubble and memories, the iconic Fat Lamb Hotel is set to make a triumphant return more than a decade after it was destroyed by fire.

First opened in 1862, the Fat Lamb Ho­tel was a cornerstone of Eugowra’s social fabric and a favourite watering hole of infa­mous bushranger Ben Hall, who often rode into town seeking respite from his outlaw life.

For 150 years, the pub stood as a gather­ing place for locals and travellers alike — until tragedy struck in 2012, when a devas­tating fire burnt the historic building to the ground.

For many, that might have been the end of the story. But for locals Ben Mulley and John Agustin, it marked the beginning of a new chapter. The pair purchased the scorched site in 2017/18, determined to bring the Fat Lamb back to life. What fol­lowed was years of hard labour — clear­ing debris, cleaning up the block, and bat­tling nature itself as flood after flood swept through the small Central West village in 2020 and of course 2022.

None hit harder than the November 9, 2022 flood, which tore through Eugowra with terrifying force, destroying homes, lives and livelihoods. Yet amid the mud and heartbreak, the dream of rebuilding the Fat Lamb never died for Ben and John.

Now, after years of setbacks and sheer persistence, that dream is finally becoming a reality. With the help of local electrician Mick Miles and a community that refuses to give up, construction of the new Fat Lamb Hotel is well underway — a powerful sym­bol of Eugowra’s resilience and renewal.

“The Fat Lamb isn’t just a pub, it is so much more to so many,” said co-owner Ben Mulley.

“It’s part of who we are. Rebuilding it is about giving Eugowra a bit of itself back.”

With so much taken away from this tiny hamlet of largely farm working people, the rebirth of the Fat Lamb mirrors the spirit of the town itself — a place that has been knocked down more times than it deserves, but continues to rise stronger each time.

Soon, the familiar clink of glasses and sound of music and laughter may once again echo from the corner where the old pub once stood — proof that in Eugowra, even the fiercest flames and the most dis­astrous floods can’t extinguish the will to rebuild.

Now that they are past the initial stages, the trio are already planning beyond the re­build with some top acts and events touted and an expansion of operations beyond cold beverages.

“We are hopeful over the next few years we can get it going again and one day offer meals and accommodation, and the cold­est beer! ” said John Agustin.

There are also plans for camping and events as John and Ben look to make the Fat Lamb a memorable stopover for travel­lers once again.

Catherine Maloney is a Forbes local, born and raised. She worked in a local salon for 13 years before moving on. Catherine, who was trained at Eleebana Beauty Academy, in Canberra and has over 35,000 hours ex­perience in her trade, is now the owner of Beauty & Soles located in Forbes.

Beauty & Soles specialise in advanced pedicures, all things nails, brows and lash­es. Catherine is constantly updating her skills and takes great pride in delivering high-quality services.

The services at Beauty & Soles are adapt­ed to each client’s uniqueness to guarantee a perfect outcome every time.

“I pride myself on attention to detail and providing high-quality services for very rea­sonable prices. I endeavour to find a solu­tion to every problem and include Home Care advice as prevention is better than a cure,” said Catherine.

Catherine uses and sells high-quality medical grade products, including Foot­logix, Young Nails, Madame Glam, Born Pretty, V Lash, Brow code, Boo Beauty and HD Brows.

Beauty & Soles provides services to both men and women with a quiet, private space. “I also have a nursing background, and when combined with my beauty train­ing I believe I offer a very unique range of beauty/health treatments that are all adapt­able to ensure the clients needs are met.”

“My advanced pedicures use high qual­ity, medical grade products, it’s more than a beauty treatment – my pedi’s also ensure foot health, lots of home care tips and edu­cating the client on how to care for their feet between appointments,” said Catherine.

You can find and follow Beauty & Soles on Facebook and Instagram, contact Cath­erine via Messenger or call 0457 125 146.

The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) has named its 2026 RAS Rural Achiever Award finalists, celebrating eight young agricultural leaders who will now go on to participate in a life-changing develop­ment program at the 2026 Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Held each year at Australia’s largest ag­ricultural show, the RAS Rural Achiever Award consists of an eight-day personal and professional development program that takes young leaders behind the scenes of the iconic event, providing vari­ous hands-on opportunities and network­ing with leaders from across the Australian agriculture industry.

Finalists are judged on their conduct throughout the program, and a winner is selected to represent NSW at the National Rural Ambassador program.

Among the future leaders being recog­nised is Sam Parish who is a passionate agribusiness professional based in Forbes, NSW. As a Project Support Officer with Wise Repro, Sam brings a strong back­ground in cattle genetics, reproduction, and rural enterprise development.

He plays a key role in advancing inno­vative agricultural services across Aus­tralia and connecting producers with prac­tical solutions and emerging technologies.

Through podcasting and a wide range of media, Sam actively promotes the value and diversity of agriculture globally. Deeply involved in local initiatives such as Forbes Rugby, agricultural shows, and charity events, he strives to strengthen the link be­tween the general population and the peo­ple, places, and possibilities of agriculture.

RAS Rural Achiever Program Councillor in Charge, Yvette McKenzie, congratulated this year’s finalists and said the program is a fantastic way for finalists to expand their networks.

“Our RAS Rural Achiever Award final­ists represent eight young leaders who are passionate about agriculture, rural and regional NSW, and the agricultural show movement, and who wish to become am­bassadors and a voice for our industry.”

“I look forward to watching this year’s fi­nalists grow and thrive through this experi­ence,” shared McKenzie.

Are you ready to bring your community pro­ject to life? Applications are now open for Round 2 of the 2025/26 Forbes Shire Com­munity Funding Program.

Grants of up to $5,000 are available to support projects in sport and recreation, cul­ture and the arts, community services, and rural village enhancement.

The Calarie Hall Recreation Reserve Trust was one of the successful applicants in last year’s program, with the grant cover­ing half the cost of a new zero-turn mower.

“Our old mower was constantly in need of repairs, which was costly. The new Ferris mower is much faster on our large grounds, saving our volunteers significant time while providing a more even cut,” Calarie Hall Recreation Reserve Chairperson, Bill Hol­mes said.

Applications for this round close 31 Janu­ary 2026. Groups requiring assistance with their application can book an appointment with Council staff by calling 6850 2300 or emailing community@forbes.nsw.gov.au.

For more information and to apply, visit: www.forbes.nsw.gov.au.