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 Ca...