Family of Brisbane drug victim starts charity to aid research
The mother of a young Brisbane man who died from an overdose at a New South Wales music festival has spoken of the moment she received a call that changed her family’s life forever – and has thrown her support behind better education for drug users.
QLD News
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THE family of a Brisbane man who died from an overdose at a NSW music festival have thrown its support behind better research and education for drug users.
Josh Tam, 22, was at the Lost Paradise music festival near Gosford on December 29 when he died about 8pm.
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His mother, Julie Tam, has spoken for the first time about her son’s passing and has helped set up a new clothing label called “Just Mossin”.
The brand was set up this week, with all of the sales to go towards funding better drug education for young Australians.
“On Boxing Day 2018 my husband and I were leaving for our annual Christmas beach holiday.
“I kissed my beautiful son goodbye as usual much to his disgust and said drive safe to the festival, it’s a long drive,” Julie wrote on the website.
“He smirked and said, ‘you know mum, boys and long drives’ in his dark humour kind of way. That’s something we had in common.
“That’s all I had worried about. I mean we had endless conversation about drugs and alcohol, we hardly needed another.”
Then, at 11.37pm, almost four hours after Josh’s overdose, Julie received the call that would change her life.
“I woke to a phone call no parent should have to receive. Who? Our son? Surely not? Our lives have changed forever,” she said.
The website – which sells snapback caps featuring the slogan “Just Mossin” for $30 – is aimed at creating “Joshua’s legacy” and “to help establish relevant peer presented education programs in schools and establishing improved safety measures at festivals and in the hope of saving many lives.”
Investigators suspect Josh took a mix of ecstasy and alcohol before incurring health problems about 8pm.
A funeral for the young rugby player will be held in Brisbane next Friday.
The Tam family did not wish to comment.
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