Brothers Chris and Peter Busch attended different schools due to their deafness, and have both embraced unique lifestyles.
One focuses on organic farming, while the other pursues an off-grid lifestyle and volunteers with the local Country Fire Authority (CFA).
Their story reflects their profound love for the countryside.
I grew up watching my grandfather and father work on the farm, and now it's my turn. I've been at it since leaving school, dedicating over 50 years to this passion. Farming isn't just a job. It's who I am at heart.Chris Busch
Learn more about the brothers in this episode of Humans of the Australian Deaf Community, on the SBS Australia channel or .
is the second series of Our Deaf Ways - a video podcast created by SBS and Deaf Australia for Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing people who use Auslan, but we also invite hearing people to watch. The video portraits introduce you to the stories of Deaf people from different walks of life.
Series created by Paula Thornton, Deaf Australia.
Additional editing by Max Banyat.
Deaf Australia and SBS acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are watching with us.
Deaf Australia and SBS celebrate Auslan and recognise all Deaf leaders in Australia who have advocated for Deaf, Deafblind and hard of hearing communities. Deaf Australia is proud of everyone’s contribution, whether big or small, in preserving our language, community and culture.
Transcript
Chris: (sign name) My name is Chris Busch and this is my brother.
Peter: My name is Peter Busch.
Chris: We are on Gunaikurnai land, in the Gippsland region.
I grew up watching my grandfather and father work on the farm, and now it's my turn. I love it.
I've been at it since leaving school, dedicating over 50 years to this passion.
Farming isn't just a job; it's who I am at heart—a farmer.
Peter: My home is off grid and I enjoy creating artworks with metal. During my travels around Australia, I've seen various items, like cars and airplanes, mounted on poles.
It occurred to me that I'd never come across a motorbike in such a position, so I decided to try it out!
I raised the motorbike and fixed it securely onto the pole. Now, it's covered in bird droppings!
Chris: I am sixty six years old, soon sixty seven.
Peter: I recently turned sixty five; there is eighteen months difference in age between us.
Chris: I went to Victorian School for the Deaf (VSDC) all my schooling years.
I first went to Princess Elizabeth Junior School for Deaf (PEJK) with Peter and then I moved onto VSDC.
Peter went to Glendonald School for Deaf Children. Why was that the case?
The teacher decided that Peter was good at speaking so he went to Glendonald.
I wasn’t good at speaking but I’m better with signing so I went to VSDC.
So we grew up apart in two different schools and then later reunited after our school years
Peter also went to a local hearing school in Bairnsdale and he did well.
Peter: So, here we are – this is my off-grid house, fully powered by solar energy. I built this using many columns from the trees that I cut down on my property.
Then I used the tractor and au auger to dig holes and erect the structure with the tree columns. This is built using mostly recycled items including doors & windows that people had thrown out as rubbish on the streets.
I asked my deaf friends in Melbourne to keep an eye out for doors – they’ve found them for me from hard rubbish.
I have collected 136 doors! I have used them for the walls inside the house.
I have a 3,000kWh power system consisting of batteries and six solar panels.
Each panel has a capacity of approximately 390 watts.
This is the battery bank for the solar power system.
The electricity generated by the solar panels flows through this box with a meter reader.
From there, it supplies power to the house for the lights and other appliances.
Chris: This is the carrots we grow here. We don’t use any chemical pesticides; we only use pesticides derived from natural foods and sources.
We have about sixteen acres of carrots here. They’re planted in different sections with varying ages.
Also there are other fields totalling up to about thirty acres of carrots.
These are the purple cabbages; we have both varieties – green and purple.
The purple cabbages are used for salads, especially coleslaws. A lot of people prefer the green cabbages but it is a personal preference!
We sell a lot of green cabbages and not so much purple cabbages.
Let me tell you about this tractor. My grandfather purchased it when it was first introduced, after relying on horses with carts for farm work.
It still functions perfectly today. You need to crank it to start it up.
On this farm, there are thirty six tractors in total. Some are not operational, but most are actively used in the fields.
When they are done on the fields for the day, they undergo servicing and maintenance to prepare for the next day and the cycle continues.
Peter: I work for the CFA as a volunteer.
He is the 2nd lieutenant and I am the 4th lieutenant. When the captain is not present, I assist in controlling fires.
I always work alongside a hearing person who manages communications on the radio because I’m deaf.
While I handle driving duties during firefighting operations, which works well for us.
You see this; this says that I am Deaf. I have another on my sleeve as well.
It reflects at night, so it is very clear to see when a torch is shined on it.
I have one on my back too.
Sometimes other trucks from different stations don’t know that I am Deaf, they will often yell at me but they now know to run up to me and tap on my shoulder or pull on the hose to get my attention.
There are different ways of communicating.
This is me there. (pointing to the newspaper picture)
This is from the fires during January 2020.
The fires were caused by lightning that has spread from East Gippsland and we fought the fires for two weeks, no, it was close to three weeks.
They started just after Christmas and continued throughout January.
It was the worst bushfire we have seen in many years.
Over the years, I have received various medals for my work with the CFA to thank me for my volunteer services.
This one is for my 45th year of service and they awarded me a life membership.
As of now, I have been with the CFA for nearly 48 years. Coming up soon is the big 50! 50 years of volunteering,
I am waiting for that! Hopefully I’ll still be alive by then!
