Born into the horror of a German concentration camp and going on to preside over the courtrooms of NSW, retiring Magistrate Peter Miszalski has described his journey as "the most privileged experience".
The long-serving magistrate will wrap up his 37-year career on the bench on Monday afternoon at a swearing out ceremony at Fairfield Court after more than half a century's work in the law.
Clocking off alongside him is Magistrate Darryl Pearce, who will retire on Tuesday.
Together the pair has a combined caseload of an estimated half a million matters, says Attorney General Mark Speakman, who paid tribute to two of the state's longest-serving of their kind.
"To think that somebody who was born in one of those camps in Germany could come to Australia with the most humblest of beginnings to actually get to the stage where you are a judge, it's the most privileged experience," 71-year-old Mr Miszalski said in a video interview shared by Justice NSW.
He was just five when he came to Australia with his Ukrainian father and Polish mother as a displaced person after WWII.
"I grew up in a small country town, we were the first migrants there," he said.
"It was difficult."
Since being appointed to the bench in 1982 Mr Miszalski says every day has been different.
"There are days where it appears to be mundane and there are many days when it becomes so rewarding, things change, people's lives change," he said.
"We get to the bottom of things. There's some truth here, there's some healing there."
Despite his retirement Mr Miszalski will continue to judge - only this time his efforts will be dedicated to orchid shows.
"That will continue probably until the rest of my life," he said.
Mr Pearce will farewell the bench from the Liverpool Local Court - the same place he started as a clerk in 1963.
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