Gran, 68, realises dream of being a nurse after son’s murder

Lynne Monteath had always wanted to be a nurse and finally started her studies after turning 60. Then the unthinkable happened — her son was murdered and she took over the care of his young sons. Now eight years later, she has realised her dream.

• Couple who looked after more than 60 kids
• Putting their brains together to find dementia cure

Lynne Monteath had always wanted to be a nurse and finally started her studies after turning 60 in 2012.

Then the unthinkable happened — her son was murdered.

The nursing studies were put on hold as she was not only forced to deal with the death of her son Ben Monteath in 2014, but also come to terms with the fact he had died in a case of mistaken identity, and also begin to care for Ben’s two young sons.

Lynne Monteath put her nurse studies on hold to look after her grandsons Joshua and Zachary.

But now, at 68, Lynne has achieved her dream late career change, ditching hairdressing after graduating as an enrolled nurse and, in a few weeks time, starting work the Finley Hospital, west of Albury.

She did it, she says, for Ben.

Lynne’s son Ben Monteath was murdered in a case of mistaken identity in 2014.

MORE FROM JANE HANSEN:

NEWTON-JOHN SUPPORTS MEDICINAL CANNABIS USE IN AUSTRALIA

BITE CLUB: OCEAN FEEDING FRENZY AS SHARKS TURN ON SHARKS

Ben was 39, when he was shot dead when he visited a friend to celebrate a birthday in Epping in Melbourne in 2014. The bullet was meant for someone else and police said it was a tragic case of mistaken identity.

“It was a random thing, a wrong place, wrong time. The murderer picked the right house, but the wrong person. It was absolutely devastating and we have just had the fifth anniversary and feel we have not grieved yet,” Ms Monteath said.

After the murder, Lynne and her husband Michael became custodians of Ben’s two young boys who were aged just two and four at the time. Their mother had been estranged since the youngest was born.

Last week, Lynne and Michael won full custody of Joshua, now aged eight, and Zachary, now aged seven.

The couple had planned a trip around Australia as grey nomads, but now they are pulling up their bootstraps to raise two boisterous young boys in country Berrigan as Lynne becomes Nurse Monteath.

“We had this tragedy and it was put on hold and then it felt unfinished. I did finish it for Ben because I wanted Ben to see I was not a quitter so I went back and did this,” she said.

Lynne Monteath is now a qualified nurse and will start her new job soon.

“I couldn’t even use a computer when I started my studies, but all the young students looked after me.

“People say we don’t know how you do it but, but we did not have a choice, but with the boys, we would not have it any other way.”

Daughter Arna said she was “incredibly proud” of her mother.

“They had both retired and had plans of going around Australia but became parents again at age 68,” Arna, 39, said.

“She did it for Ben and to prove that even after something so horrible happened, you can keep going. After my brother was killed I didn’t thing she would ever stop crying, but she did and managed to get her diploma. I’m so proud.”

Originally published as Gran, 68, realises dream of being a nurse after son’s murder