The Incidental Blacksmith star Barnaby Lund Q&A
OUR FEARLESS FILM STARS PROVE THAT ANYONE CAN BE FEARLESS, REGARDLESS OF AGE OR ABILITY. BOLD, DARING, AND EXTRAORDINARY, THESE PEOPLE SMASH ALL DISABILITY STEREOTYPES. THEIR FILMS ASPIRE TO CHALLENGE TRADITIONAL VIEWS AROUND THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY.
For many years, Barnaby Lund experienced the loneliness, isolation and anxiety that often go hand-in-hand with having a disability. Barney used the internet and a newfound confidence thanks to his mentor to form a community of friends, who, along with his growing family and appetite for learning new skills, helped him find his way out of isolation.
Read his Q&A below:
Describe yourself in 5 words:
- Creative
- Determined
- Resourceful
- Inquisitive
- Thoughtful
How would your family or friends describe you?
A loving partner, dad, uncle, son, brother and friend. A community -minded person who cares about others and who isn’t afraid to put in the hard work to make things happen.
What makes you unique?
My brain!
What do you really love doing?
Spending time with my family and friends, blacksmithing and knifemaking in the shed, bush walking and camping.
What makes you the happiest?
Seeing my girls grow into amazing young ladies. Spending time with my wife and our extended families.
What upsets you?
Injustice, environmental destruction.
What would you say are your strengths?
Perseverance. Failing is just another opportunity to do better.
What would you say are your weaknesses?
Ice cream, chocolate, impatience and negative self-criticism.
What are you most proud of?
My children, our home, and where I am in my life despite some challenging times.
What is important to you in life?
My family and friends, my local community and a healthy environment.
What are the top three things you want to achieve in life?
- A healthy and happy family.
- A strong and positive relationship with our community.
- Buy some land and establish a knifemaking and blacksmithing school.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?
Quitting my job after 10 years due to depression and anxiety, and foregoing that financial stability. Creating a new job, moving back to the Northern Rivers, and saving to buy our house. Also adjusting to parenthood!
If you could change one thing in your life what would it be?
Having more time to spend in nature with my family. Life is so busy!
What are your biggest fears for the future?
Not being able to take care of my family.
What is your greatest dream in life?
Being self-employed and self-sufficient. Travelling overseas with my family, enjoying time with them in nature.
How do you feel about having a disability?
I’m OK with it now. I wasn’t always. Being deaf gives me a different perspective. It’s a source of strength and has been an incredible influence on all aspects of my life, including my relationships, friendships and employment. If I wasn’t deaf, I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today.
How would you describe your disability and how it impacts you to someone who doesn’t know anything about it?
Being deaf is an invisible disability. Until you start talking to me, you probably won’t know I’m deaf, and even then it is not always immediately obvious. Being deaf means I miss out in group conversations and that can lead to social isolation, anxiety and depression. It can be frustrating and lonely at times. People can discriminate without meaning to, simply because they don’t understand deafness.
