Dame Marie Bashir, former NSW Governor, Dies at 95
Dame Marie Bashir, who served as the 37th Governor of New South Wales and was the first woman and first person of Lebanese descent to hold the office, has died at the age of 95. Her passing was announced on Tuesday night by Premier Chris Minns. A state funeral was held on Wednesday in Sydney.
State Funeral in Sydney
The state funeral for Dame Marie Bashir took place on Wednesday at St James' Church, King Street, Sydney. The service included a flyover by a 737 NSW Rural Fire Service Air Tanker, which had been named in her honor.
Attendees at the service included Governor-General Sam Mostyn, current NSW Premier Chris Minns, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Andrew Bell, former Prime Ministers John Howard and Scott Morrison, and former NSW Premiers Gladys Berejiklian and Mike Baird.
Dame Marie's daughter, Alexandra Shehadie, delivered remarks at the service, referencing her mother's connection to regional NSW. Family members also shared details about her diverse musical tastes and items from her home. Residents in Narrandera, Dame Marie's hometown, viewed the service via livestream at Marie Bashir Park.
Gubernatorial Tenure
Dame Marie served as Governor of NSW for 14 years, from 2001 to 2014.
She was the 37th Governor and notably the first woman and first person of Lebanese descent to hold the position.
Her appointment was recommended by then-NSW Premier Bob Carr. She chose not to extend her term beyond 14 years, citing a desire to not surpass Sir Roden Cutler's record as the longest-serving governor. David Hurley succeeded her in the role.
Early Life and Professional Career
Born in Narrandera, NSW, in 1930, Dame Marie attended Sydney Girls High School. She graduated from the University of Sydney in 1956 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.
Her medical career began at St Vincent's Hospital. She subsequently held teaching positions at the University of Sydney and the University of NSW. Her professional work focused on children's services, psychiatry, mental health, and Indigenous health, including a role as a senior consultant to the Aboriginal Medical Service. At the time of her gubernatorial appointment, she was a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Sydney and area director of Mental Health Services Central Sydney.
Honors and Recognition
Dame Marie was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1988 for her contributions to children's health. In June 2014, she was named a Dame of the Order of Australia. This honor recognized her service to administration, public life, and the people of NSW, alongside her advocacy in areas such as mental health, international relations, tertiary education, medicine, and marginalized communities. She concluded her governorship three months later. Throughout her career, she received over 70 awards.
Family
Dame Marie was married to Sir Nicholas Shehadie, a former Sydney lord mayor, from 1957 until his death in 2018, a period of 61 years. She is survived by her three children, Michael, Alexandra, and Susan, and six grandchildren.