A partner at Springwood legal firm McPhee Kelshaw for 23 years, Mr Dunkley joined the ranks of only eight other new Federal Magistrates last October from a pool of 500 applicants. He will preside over mainly family law matters at Parramatta Federal Magistrates Court during 2009, although he may spend time at other courts.

“The work is challenging and interesting. It is more challenging than I originally anticipated because in most family law disputes, there is merit in what both parties to the dispute are arguing and it is difficult to balance the competing applications in relation to children and property,” he said.

“When I was sworn in, I took an oath to treat each person with fairness. That is a responsibility which I, and all members of the Court, take very seriously.”

One of the principals of McPhee Kelshaw, Paul McPhee, who worked with Mr Dunkley for some 28 years, said his appointment to the Federal Court was a “great honour”.

“It is a recognition of his expertise in the area of family law and his very practical approach to resolving what can often be extremely complex and emotionally charged issues,” he said.

“As far as I am aware, David is the first Springwood solicitor to be appointed to judicial office.”

Mr Dunkley has lived in Springwood since 1980.

He and his wife Linda have three children — Nathan, 21, who is undertaking an engineering degree at university; Alexandra, 19, is studying communications at Charles Sturt University; and Kathryn, 15, is in Year 10 at Blue Mountains Grammar School.

McPhee Kelshaw have replaced Mr Dunkley with Ms Ann Schrale, who commenced legal practice with them some 10 years ago.