The 99-year-old founder of a former North Queensland youth camp has been sentenced to 12 years behind bars for the “persistent” sexual abuse of a boy half a century ago.
Geoffrey John Guest committed the sexual assaults over a period of about 20 months in the mid-1970s, the District Court in Cairns heard.
WARNING: This story contains details of child sexual abuse
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The victim, who cannot be identified, told the court Guest was a “monster and predator” whose crimes had greatly affected his health and ability to maintain stable housing and work.
“It is something I can never get out of my head,” the man said in a statement, read to the court on Friday by Crown Prosecutor Nicole Friedewald before the sentence was handed down.
Now in his 60s, the victim said the abuse made it hard for him to maintain healthy relationships with partners, friends and relatives, “because people ask why I am so angry all the time”.
“The trauma made me feel so angry and I feel a lot of shame because of what he has done to me.”
Guest pleaded not guilty to four counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16, one count of unlawful carnal knowledge, and one count of repeated sexual conduct against a child with a circumstance of aggravation.
The latter charge carried a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Supporters surrounded Geoffrey Guest as he attended court for his first trial in July 2025. (ABC Far North: Holly Richardson)
On Thursday, a jury returned majority guilty verdicts, where 11 of 12 jurors agreed, on all charges after about nine hours of deliberations at the end of a week-long trial.
In sentencing on Friday Judge Tracy Fantin ordered Guest serve at least four years before being eligible for parole, in March 2030.
‘Long journey’ for justice
The court heard the pair was alone and isolated on the remote North Queensland property where the abuse took place.
As a teenager, he was told by Guest the sexual acts were “what men did”.
“My understanding of how healthy male and female relationships work has been problematic for me,” the victim’s statement read..
“I didn’t know what was normal.”
The man first disclosed the abuse in 2009 after watching an episode of television current affairs program 60 Minutes focused on Guest’s work with young people.
He told the court he turned to alcohol to cope and continued to have nightmares and “intrusive memories”.
“I still see [Guest] all the time in my head; he is always there.”
Supporters of Geoff Guest embrace outside the Cairns courthouse after the 99-year-old’s sentencing. (ABC News: Brendan Mounter)
While the man made a statement to police in 2012, police did not act for a decade until a different detective took over the investigation.
“During the last two decades, I have had to tell and expose my trauma to so many people police, counsellors [and] the court,” the victimsaid in his statement.
“Thirteen years ago, my statement was left at Mareeba police [station] while I anxiously waited for my case to be heard.
“It has been an extremely long journey.”
Guest showed no remorse
Judge Fantin said the sexual abuse was “persistent”, only stopping during “extremely short” periods when others were present at the property.
“There was a significant power imbalance between you,” Judge Fantin said.
Judge Fantin said Guest used physical violence, including hitting the victim with a leather strap, which made the boy submit to the sexual abuse “out of fear”.
“It is an understatement to say this offending has had a profoundly adverse impact on his entire life,” she said.
Guest (centre) pictured with a supporter in late February outside court. (ABC News: Conor Byrne)
Judge Fantin said there was “a need to take into account the prospect [Guest] may not live to be released”.
However, his was “a case of sexual offending against a child of the most serious kind”.
Guest was in “remarkable” heath, despite his advanced age, Judge Fantin said.
At trial, Guest denied the offending and accused the complainant and other prosecution witnesses of lying.
Honours may be stripped
Ms Friedewald said Guest’s acts were not charged as rapes because that was not an option available under the law of the time.
Guest’s barrister Kelly Goodwin said his client was removed from his Aboriginal mother as a child and served with the Merchant Navy in World War II.
Crown Prosecutor Nicole Friedewald leaves Cairns courthouse on Thursday after Guest was found guilty of child sexual abuse. (ABC News: Brendan Mounter)
Guest was awarded an OAM in 1995 for service to the community, particularly disadvantaged youth, a Centenary Medal in 2001, and an International Rotary Medal.
He founded the Petford Training Farm in 1978 and, after its closure in 1999, continued his work through a charity called the Petford Wellness Association until about six months ago.
Tablelands Sexual Assault Service said the sentence was an “incredibly significant outcome” for the victim-survivor.
“We … strongly encourage anyone who is impacted by this to please come forward to access support.”
A spokeswoman for Patrick Gorman, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, said Mr Gorman “has already requested the process for cancellation of the Order of Australia Medal begin”.
“This news is deeply distressing and the government’s thoughts are with the victim survivor of these disgusting crimes,” she said.
“The Assistant Minister has also requested advice from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet on cancellation of the Centenary Medal that was awarded during the Howard Government.”