‘Selfless, remarkable’: pioneer and ex-governor dies
Miranda Forster, Alex Mitchell and Luke Costin |
As she neared a war hero’s record term, NSW governor Dame Marie Bashir organised her own exit.
Her selfless decision to leave Victoria Cross recipient Sir Roden Cutler’s 15-year stint untouched was cited repeatedly as leaders and admirers reflected on her life of public service after her death, aged 95.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recalled a pioneer and abiding passion for helping others, while NSW Premier Chris Minns paid tribute to her advocacy for mental health, education and social inclusion.
“The people of NSW held Dame Marie in great respect and affection, reflecting the trust and goodwill she earned over a lifetime of service,” the premier said.
A psychiatrist and the wife of former Sydney lord mayor and legendary Wallabies captain Sir Nicholas Shehadie, Dame Marie served as NSW governor from 2001 to 2014. She was the first woman appointed to the role.
Dame Marie was born to a Lebanese father and a mother of Lebanese descent in Narrandera, a town on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River.
She worked at two Sydney hospitals before taking up general practice as she started her medical career.
Later switching to specialise in psychiatry, she drove substantial change in the mental health space including by establishing psychiatric services for young people and a clinical professorship at the University of Sydney.
Appointed an officer of the Order of Australia in 1988 for her services to child and adolescent health, she held senior roles in NSW Health before her ascent to governor.
She was “probably Bob Carr’s best-ever decision”, former Liberal premier Barry O’Farrell said, and later premiers “could do nothing else as she fitted the role so well”.
Mr O’Farrell offered her another four years soon after he entered office in 2011.
“She said she wanted two years,” he told ABC radio on Wednesday.
“Partly because she said she owed time to her husband and secondly because she was a great fan of (Sir Roden) Cutler, a war hero, and she didn’t want to surpass his record term.
“She was selfless from start to finish.”
Mr Minns said her decision “reflected her humility and deep respect for those who came before her”.
The prime minister said Australia was poorer for her death and richer for her life due to her dignity, warmth, intellect and empathy.
“Her lifetime of service to the medical profession, her community and her fellow Australians was defined by her powerful sense of duty and her abiding passion for helping others,” Mr Albanese posted on social media.
“As the first woman to serve as governor of NSW, she was both a pioneer and an inspiration.”
The Penington Institute, for which Dame Marie served as patron from the body’s creation in 2014, lauded her efforts to reform drug policy.
“With trademark compassion and kindness, she was a passionate supporter of Penington’s vision to reduce drug harms to Australians through the pursuit of evidence-based policy approaches,” chief executive John Ryan said.
“She lent her name and reputation to the work of drug reform advocates when many who have held high office choose not to.”
State MP Alex Greenwich honoured her support for the LGBTQI community, which included her and her husband being named chiefs at the 2015 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras for their work to combat homophobia.
“Throughout her career she always supported the rights and equality of the LGBTIQA+ community from the AIDS crisis to the marriage equality campaign,” he wrote on Facebook.
A state funeral will held at a later date.
AAP
