WHEN John Smurthwaite descended deep beneath the waves as a young man, unlike most of us, he realised his life’s calling.
His first breath on surfacing and many more thereafter would be dedicated to serving as a submariner.
It would be a vocation that would take him across the world before finally docking just outside of Mildura.
Mr Smurthwaite was born in the United Kingdom, later living in Cardross.
Not the Cardross we know, the Cardross in Scotland the more local town is named after.
Sounds complicated? Well it is.
Mr Smurthwaite and his wife Bronwyn spent time to explain the journey that their lives have taken before landing in Mildura.
He was born in Whitehaven, a town and port on the English North West in Cumberland in 1948.
One of five children, he joined the Navy in 1967.
Soon after taking to the see and with service that entailed time at shore depots and on ship, he decided to join the submariners, which meant that he would be serving under water in submarines.
“I loved the thought of being in a submarine,” he said. “Whilst I understand that being locked in a large tube under water isn’t for everyone.
“As it turned out it was something that I loved and something that I have never regretted.”
It was during the early stages of his career that he met his future wife, Bronwyn Brown.
They met in a music hall. Today, it would be referred to it as a nightclub.
It wasn’t long after they were married 1972.
Mrs Smurthwaite had arrived in the UK from Australia to help her grandmother after her grandfather had died, and was training as a nurse.
She had spent a lot of her formative years in the Mildura region.
Her parents owned the first service station in Buronga and at the same time had a fruit block at Stewart Road at Red Cliffs.
Mrs Smurthwaite attended Stewart Primary School, before starting her secondary school education at Red Cliffs High.
At the end of Form 1 her parents had sold the fruit block and service station and with family relocated to Melbourne.
She was 17 when she left for the UK.
After marrying, John and Bronwyn moved to live at Cardross in Scotland, which is located very close to a naval base.
Life was busy.
Mrs Smurthwaite, now a nurse and Mr Smurthwaite away in his job as a submariner.
His career in the Royal British Navy saw him spend time on many different submarines including the Dolphin, Neptune, Terror and Oberon.
Submarines can be as large as surface ships, but since they contain so much equipment, their personnel counts are much smaller with between 120 to 140 crew.
It means all aboard must be able to multitask well.
Each and every day on a submarine is very different.
“It’s essential that the crew worked hard at making sure they all got on,” Mr Smurthwaite said.
“You learn, being a submariner, to except people for who they are, tolerance is an important part of your life when you are working and living in a submarine.
“It was for me always exciting being in a submarine and living underwater.
“When I was in the Royal Navy it was the period of time in what was referred to as the Cold War, which of course is in reference to world’s view on Russia and a potential conflict.
“A lot of our exercises were done in anticipation of war.
“I remember that there were times when fisherman who all had radar to search for fish, would spot our subs below them and drop nets on us, hoping to destroy their older nets and get the Navy to buy them new nets.”
In 1972, Mr and Mrs Smurthwaite’s first child was born.
It was at this time the Royal British Navy brought a submarine to Australia and they were both were based here for two years before returning to the UK where their second child was born.
On making it back to the UK, the couple decided that after two years away and with a combination of family and life they’d had while back here, it was here where they wanted to be.
Mr Smurthwaite resigned from the Royal British Navy, and the family packed their bags.
Once back in Australia he joined the Royal Australia Navy working once again in submarines based out of Sydney, a job he stayed in until he resigned in 1985.
Meanwhile, Mrs Smurthwaite’s parents had moved back to Mildura and purchased another fruit block, this time at Cardross.
While it was a long way from the sea but Mr Smurthwaite embraced to opportunity for change and prospect of being able raise his family in a safe and healthy environment.
The couple purchased four acres of land from Bronwyn’s family at Cardross and built their family home, where they raised their children.
Not long after arriving in Mildura Mr Smurthwaite started working at the old Mildura Base Hospital as a cleaner.
Soon after starting work he completed his Division Two Nursing Certificate and commenced work at the Base until retiring in 2016.
The Smurthwaite’s have since moved from Cardross to Red Cliffs where they spend an active and healthy life.
Mr Smurthwaite is currently a dedicated member of the Sunraysia Sub section of the Naval Association of Australia.
“I’ve been so lucky,” he said.
“I had a fabulous life. Blessed to have an incredible wife and terrific children.
“I love Australia and Red Cliffs, the food here is fantastic, not as sure about the politicians.
“Given the chance, would I change anything about my life? The simple answer is no.”
