The secret obsession of a Supreme Court Justice

For 45 years, George Palmer harboured a secret. He spent every spare moment composing classical music, and then shoving his scores in his bottom drawer. Until one day, almost by pure chance, that music saw the light of day. As a young man, George had dreams of becoming a renowned classical music composer, but when he walked into university, he didn't feel like he belonged in the music department. George left after his first week, and followed a school friend into the law department. At first, George was not inspired by the law, but he ended up falling in love with the human side of the justice system. For the next 45 years, he climbed the ranks from barrister, to Queen's Counsel, and finally to judge in the NSW Supreme Court, where he had ultimate responsibility for all adoptions in the state. But through all those years in public life, George had a secret "vice". Every spare moment he had was spent at his piano, scribbling down choral works and orchestral scores that he neve...