Leopold paraplegic Billy Bubb on life after 2020 motorbike accident

A Leopold man’s life changed forever five years ago when a horror motorbike crash left him a paraplegic. But with his love of farming and beloved pup Goose by his side, he is determined to prove that anything is possible.

Billy Bubb with Goose at his Leopold home. Picture: Brad Fleet

For Billy Bubb, his passion for farming runs in his blood.

Growing up on his parent’s property just outside of Leopold, where they owned a mobile pet farm, he’d spend his afternoons bottle feeding goats, riding his motorcycle or swimming in the dam.

As he grew older, the now-26-year-old worked up to 14 hours a day, six days a week as an excavator operator with the dream of having his own patch of land one day.

But on New Year’s Eve 2020, his world changed forever.

At the time, he was building his own home and preparing to start a new chapter in his life.

A life-altering crash meant he may never he able to live on his own.

Bubb had headed to South Australia to celebrate with his mates.

“The trip was a last minute decision,” he said.

“I loaded up my ute, finished work at 5pm and drove over the border.”

Riding his motorbike on the dunes in Beachport, 380km southeast of Adelaide, Bubb crashed and suffered critical injuries.

Billy Bubb in hospital after his accident on New Year’s Eve in 2020. Picture: Supplied.

His mates had no phone reception to call for help.

Luckily, they were assisted by a couple who had a satellite navigation system and were able to contact emergency services.

Bubb was flown to Royal Adelaide Hospital, where he was sedated and spent 21 days in intensive care on a ventilator.

Doctors soon realised he had a severed spinal cord, broken back, severe lung damage and bruising to his brain.

They described his survival as a “miracle”, but said he would likely never walk again.

Bubb in hospital after the crash. Picture: Supplied.

Bubb’s family rushed to Adelaide to be by his side, with a spike in Covid cases and potential border closures only adding to their stress.

His condition had stabilised after a month and he was transferred to the Austin hospital in Melbourne to continue rehabilitation.

“I don’t remember what happened next or much else from that time,” he said.

Returning to his Leopold home and transitioning into his new way of life as a paraplegic was extremely difficult.

“I had a lot of support but it’s such a different way of life that I didn’t know how to adapt to,” he said.

Bubb has since undergone years of physiotherapy, including training at the Geelong Neuro Centre, to help him rebuild strength and mobility.

Being able to wriggle his fingers and standing for the first time were big milestones that he and his family celebrated.

His daily routine consists of riding a stationary bike and trying to stand in his kitchen to maintain his strength.

Billy Bubb in his hospital bed after mastering how to do the thumbs up.

Approximately 18 months ago, Bubb’s dream of owning a farm became a reality.

Just outside of Cobden, 130km west of Geelong, a 30-acre patch of land is where he now has 16 cows and has started to sow crops.

He originally bought an excavator, but quickly realised he needed a tractor.

In June last year, Bubb met Amanda Davies, owner of Geelong Rural, to modify a Kioti tractor.

All smiles: Bubb at the Geelong Rural showroom. Picture: Supplied.

It was made fully hand operational with modifications made to the seat, emergency buttons and doors.

Davies made the 90-minute drive from her Fyansford warehouse to deliver the tractor to Cobden in December.

Bubb said the most memorable feeling from that day was the sense of independence he got sitting in his own tractor.

“I closed the door and drove off into the paddock to feed by cows,” he said.

“I connected by phone to the bluetooth speaker and turned up my country tunes.”

He said the tractor has changed his life and helped put him on the path to financial independence and freedom.

Bubb in his new modified tractor. Picture: Supplied.

Bubb and Geelong Rural owner Amanda Davies. Picture: Supplied

Davies said Bubb had been a “real inspiration” to her team.

“From the moment we first chatted about tractors with Billy in our showroom, we never saw the wheelchair and only his infectious smile,” she said.

With a big grin on his face, Bubb said running his farm keeps him extremely busy.

He drives there from Leopold at least once a week and plans to continue to seed his paddocks with more crops.

With his beloved dog Goose by his side, Bubb is confident he can prove anyone wrong and achieve anything.

“You can make anything happen if you just give it a go,” he said.

“Try it and if it doesn’t work, try something else.

“Just give it a crack.”

Originally published as Leopold paraplegic Billy Bubb on life after 2020 motorbike accident