The family had assumed it was a robbery, and never imagined Greg, who they knew, had died.
“They’re a very nice family,” she says, recalling how Greg was actively involved in the community.
Many neighbours lamented that speculation was rife, with online theories only causing further trauma for the grieving family.
Some questioned how such a tragedy could allegedly unfold at the hands of a teenager. Others wondered about wider societal issues at play, and how technology had engulfed children with corrupt influences.
The neighbourhood has now been indelibly marked by a tragedy that no one expected. At the centre of it is a grieving family.
Photos shared by Greg recently show a glimpse into his life. On Christmas Day, the 58-year-old posted a photo of his wife, Tamra, smiling, standing on a beach, a cruise ship in turquoise water in the distance. Friends have left comments on the photos remembering Greg as a gentleman, with a beautiful laugh, who was always there for them.
Other photos show adventures of horseriding, skiing, riding motorbikes, family trips across Australia, and at island resorts in Fiji and Bali.
The family have declined interviews, and ask that the media leave them to grieve in peace.
The Josephsons were an active part of the Brisbane community, and had been dedicated members of the St Agatha’s Parish, where Tamra was a volunteer.
The pair had also recently donated to St Joseph’s College. After leaving the boys school, he went on to study commerce at Griffith University.
He then held positions with Westfield and Lendlease, and by the late 90s, launched the Universal Store alongside brother Michael, with the first store opening in Brisbane’s east side in Carindale. Retail ran through his blood – his uncle had owned the Lee Cooper brand, while their grandfather owned the workwear brand Can’t Tear ‘Em.
The brothers eventually moved on from Universal, selling the company for $100 million in 2018. It is now worth almost $600 million, with more than 80 shopfronts across Australia.
Before his death, Greg and his wife had been planning to sell their property, shifting their focus to multiple business ventures on the Sunshine Coast, including the Rosecliff Farm Cottages in Cooran, Café Doonan and the Eumundi Hotel.
In an article on the listing, Greg had said the renovation brief was to give the property a five-star hotel feel.
“We’re sad to sell, but we’re relocating to Noosa where we have a house and business interests,” he told News Corp in early June.
It remains unclear how the case against Greg’s alleged killer will play out, with the accused teen set to be the first major test of Queensland’s controversial adult crime, adult time legislation.
Read more on The Sydney Morning Herald
