Geoffrey John Guest, 99, Found Guilty of Child Sex Abuse Charges

A jury has found Geoffrey John Guest, a 99-year-old former youth worker, guilty of child sex abuse charges. Guest was the founder of the now-defunct Petford Training Farm in North Queensland, established in 1978.

Trial Verdict and Proceedings

During a week-long trial in the District Court in Cairns, the jury heard evidence that Guest sexually abused a teenage boy over more than 18 months in the mid-1970s. The court was informed that the abuse occurred at a remote North Queensland property lacking basic amenities.

Guest had pleaded not guilty to one count of repeated sexual conduct with a child in circumstances of aggravation, four counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16, and one count of unlawful carnal knowledge. After approximately nine hours of deliberation, the jury returned majority guilty verdicts on all charges. Judge Tracy Fantin had instructed the jury that a majority decision (11 out of 12 jurors) was permissible after sufficient deliberation.

Guest, who was on bail throughout the trial, has been remanded in custody. Sentencing has been adjourned until tomorrow afternoon.

Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald indicated she would seek a lengthy term of imprisonment.

Long Road to Justice: Disclosure and Investigation

The complainant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, disclosed the sexual abuse in September 2009.

This disclosure occurred after he reacted to seeing Guest featured on the television program "60 Minutes." His then-partner testified that he appeared distressed after watching the program and subsequently made notes of his revelation.

The complainant, now in his 60s, made a statement to police in 2012. However, detectives did not secure a signed statement until a decade later. Guest, who had been awarded an Order of Australia Medal and a Centenary Medal for his services to disadvantaged and Indigenous youth, was charged in 2023.

This recent trial was the third attempt to prosecute the case:

• A trial in July 2025 resulted in a hung jury.
• A new trial began in late February but was declared a mistrial due to inadmissible evidence.
• The third trial commenced the following day, February 25.

Witness Accounts and Defence

Guest testified during the trial, denying all allegations of child sexual abuse. The court heard evidence suggesting the abuse happened approximately three times a week when Guest and the complainant were alone.

Two unnamed witnesses of a similar age to the complainant testified they were unaware of sexual abuse but had experienced violent beatings by Guest. One witness described seeing the complainant with "black bruises on his arms, legs [and] face" and being subjected to verbal abuse and physical floggings with a leather strap. The witness stated they did not intervene due to fear of receiving similar treatment. Defence counsel Kelly Goodwin suggested this witness was motivated by anger towards Guest, which the witness denied.

Ten character witnesses, including a psychiatrist, writer, tour guide, and two former Petford Training Farm residents, testified in Guest's defense, highlighting his community standing.

The Institution's History: Petford Training Farm

The Petford Training Farm provided rural skills training to at-risk youth. The Queensland government funded the camp from 1986, referring children there. Funding was withdrawn, and the program ceased operation in 1999 following an evaluation and the Forde Commission of Inquiry into the abuse of children in Queensland institutions.

The Forde Commission's report specifically noted that the training farm exhibited "all the hallmarks of a high-risk institution for abuse of residents."