Overview

Dame Marie Roslyn Bashir AD, CVO (born 1 December 1930) is an Australian physician and psychiatrist who became the 37th Governor of New South Wales and the first woman to hold that office. Appointed on 1 March 2001, she brought a long career in medicine, mental health and medical education to the viceregal role. Her public profile combines clinical leadership with community and charitable work.

Early life and education

Bashir was born in Narrandera, New South Wales, and completed her secondary schooling at Sydney Girls High School. She studied medicine and surgery at the University of Sydney, graduating in 1956. Her medical training was followed by specialty training and clinical practice in psychiatry, with an emphasis on services for children and adolescents.

Medical and academic career

Before entering the vice-regal office, Bashir built a reputation as a clinician and educator. She worked extensively in mental health services and held senior academic appointments, including Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Sydney. Her clinical interests centered on child and adolescent mental health, family services and the integration of psychiatric care into broader community and school-based programs.

Public service, honours and recognition

Bashir's contributions to medicine and public welfare have been recognised with several honours and appointments. In 1988 she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of her services to child and adolescent health. During and after her time as governor she received additional honours reflecting her public service and community leadership.

  • Appointed Governor of New South Wales, 1 March 2001.
  • First woman to serve as Governor of New South Wales.
  • Honours include titles shown by the post-nominals AD and CVO and the Officer of the Order of Australia award in 1988; see awards and honours for context.

Personal life and legacy

Bashir married Sir Nicholas Shehadie in 1957; he was a well-known figure in Sydney civic life and a former Lord Mayor of Sydney. Their marriage lasted until his death in 2018. Sir Nicholas's public roles and Bashir's own career made the couple prominent in public and charitable spheres in New South Wales and nationally. References to Sydney civic life and to Sir Nicholas appear in contemporary accounts of the family's public involvement (City of Sydney, Nicholas Shehadie).

Marie Bashir is remembered for bringing clinical experience and a patient-centred perspective to public office. Her work helped raise the profile of child and adolescent mental health in Australia and illustrated a model of how clinicians can contribute to civic life. Biographical summaries typically highlight her dual identity as a practising psychiatrist and a vice-regal representative, and note her role as a trailblazer for women in high public office.

For further reading and formal records consult institutional and government sources, including university biographies and official honours listings, which document her appointments, publications and community work in more detail.