Geoffrey John Guest, founder of the Petford Training Farm, has been convicted of child sexual abuse against a teenage boy over 18 months in the 1970s.
Geoffrey John Guest, a prominent youth worker in North Queensland and founder of the now-defunct Petford Training Farm, has been found guilty of child sexual abuse following a jury trial. The abuse involved a teenage boy over a span of more than 18 months during the mid-1970s at Guest's remote training facility, which provided care for at-risk Indigenous youth. The court heard chilling testimonies of abuse where Guest, who was known for his seemingly wholesome façade, inflicted severe emotional and physical harm on his victims.
The trial revealed that Guest managed to project an image of a caring mentor and educator in the presence of adults, but when alone with the boys, his behavior turned abusive. Described as
