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, Gemma — Ben rebuilt his life one determined step at a time.

He found his purpose again through wheelchair basketball, then discovered new calling on the water. In 2009, Ben proudly wore the green and gold, winning a bronze medal for Australia in adaptive rowing at the World Rowing Championships in Poznań, Poland.

Today, Ben runs a cattle farm at McKanes Falls, raises his daughter Clancy, and travels the country as a respected workplace safety speaker. His story is not just about surviving—it’s about choosing to thrive and building a life defined by meaning, memories, and the people who stood by him.

This episode powerfully reminds us that real strength isn’t in what we’ve endured—it’s in what we create next.