The heart of the hammer: how one man is rallying a region for a rare fight

The heart of the hammer lies in the Western NSW townships where Tom Campbell has built a regional force through auctioneering and real estate. At 51, Campbell has spent nearly three decades in Forbes, Cowra, Bathurst, and Millthorpe, evolving from a stock and station agent to a prominent real estate leader who still treats auctions as a community instrument. His career gained public momentum through charity auctions, notably a meat tray that raised $10,000 at Dancing with the Stars. A family‑led response followed the November 2025 diagnosis of nine‑year‑old Nini Ireson, prompting renewed regional fundraising and community mobilization rooted in the district’s generous spirit.