Dame Marie Bashir, former NSW governor and distinguished psychiatrist, dies age 95 | New South Wales
New South Wales’ first female governor, Dame Marie Bashir, has died. He was 95 years old.
NSW premier Chris Minns confirmed his death on behalf of his family on Tuesday and wrote a statement saying he was saddened to share the news of his passing.
“On behalf of the people of New South Wales, I offer my deepest condolences to Dame Marie’s family, friends and all those inspired by her extraordinary life,” he wrote.
“Dame Marie Bashir served our state with distinction as the first female governor of NSW from 2001 to 2014, and brought enormous dignity and compassion to the role.”
“Dame Marie was an outstanding Australian and one of New South Wales’ most respected public servants.”
In a tribute sent to X, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his “lifelong service to the medical profession, his community and his fellow Australians was defined by his strong sense of duty and his enduring passion to help others.”
“As the first woman to serve as Governor of New South Wales, she was both a pioneer and an inspiration. Dame Marie blended dignity with warmth and intelligence with empathy in everything she did.
“Our nation is poorer for the death of Dame Marie Bashir, and Australia is richer for her life.”
Bashir becomes the first person of Lebanese descent to be appointed governor of NSW and the third woman to be appointed governor of an Australian state.
Bashir was married to former Sydney mayor Sir Nicholas Shehadie for 61 years and had three children and six grandchildren.
He was also a distinguished psychiatrist and advocate for mental health, education and social inclusion.
Former NSW premier Bob Carr, who recommended his appointment as governor in 2001, described him as “the most compassionate person I think I have ever met”.
“He was a psychiatrist who focused on adolescent psychiatry at a time when we were becoming more aware of mental health issues in general and young people’s mental health issues,” he told ABC Radio National on Wednesday morning.
“I think his insight in this area was appreciated by the half-dozen or so premieres he worked with, but it was a compassion that infused his personality that made him a universally respected figure.”
Independent state Sydney MP Alex Greenwich said Bashir, who officiated at the 2015 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade, had “always supported the rights and equality of the LGBTIQA+ community, from the AIDS crisis to the marriage equality campaign”.
“Thank you Dame Marie Bashir, your legacy continues to give strength to us all,” he wrote in a tribute on Instagram.
Bashir was born in 1930 at Narrandera in the central Riverina region of south-western NSW. He graduated from the University of Sydney with a bachelor’s degree in medicine and surgery in 1956; He later worked there as a clinical professor of psychiatry and later served as the university’s president from 2007 to 2012.
In reflecting on Bashir’s 14 years as governor, Minns wrote that he “declared that although he was widely respected, he deliberately chose not to extend his term beyond that point because he did not want to surpass Sir Roden Cutler as the longest-serving governor.”
“This was a decision that reflected his humility and deep respect for those who came before him,” he said.
“The people of New South Wales held Dame Marie with great respect and affection, reflecting the trust and goodwill she earned throughout her lifetime of service.”
Minns said a state ceremony will be held in his honor.
