Former Uniting Church reverend accused of child sex abuse released on bail

A RETIRED Uniting Church reverend accused of the historic sexual abuse of a girl on the Gold Coast has been granted bail after his extradition from Melbourne.

Maurice Wildish, 73, was released this afternoon.

Bail was granted in Southport Magistrates Court and Wildish smiled as he was led back to the watch-house.

Wildish, who appeared in the same long-sleeved shirt and tracksuit pants he was extradited in, faces five counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16. He landed at Gold Coast Airport alongside police on Wednesday.

It’s alleged the retiree indecently touched the child at a Carrara home between 1995 and 1996 and at a Port Douglas motel in 1997. It will also be alleged he knew but was not related to the child’s family.

It’s understood Wildish was a reverend for the church in cities across the east coast.

Uniting Church moderator (Queensland Synod) Reverend David Baker has spoken out about the charges.

“The Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod has been aware of the matter and will continue to co-operate with relevant authorities as required,” he said.

“It is important that we respect the judicial process.”

In court at various times, Wildish stared at the bar table twiddling his thumbs, scanned over the public gallery and held his hand over his mouth as lawyer Stephen McGhie fought for his freedom.

Magistrate Dermot Kehoe said there was no indication in objection to bail documents provided by prosecutor Sergeant Paige Barrow “that there have been any other incidents since this time stated in the charges”.

Wildish will now return to his home at Swan Hill. The case was adjourned to April 2.