Marie Bashir

Dame Marie Roslyn Bashir  (1 December 1930 – 20 January 2026) was an Australian physician and politician who was the 37th Governor of New South Wales from 2001 until 2014. She was the first woman to hold the position. She was appointed on 1 March 2001. 

In 2014, Bashir said that she would step down as governor and said that the time was right for her to go. She said she did not want to break the record of longest service New South Wales governor set by Sir Roden Cutler because she respected him as a war hero.

Early life
Bashir was born in Narrandera, New South Wales, and later went to the Sydney Girls High School. She studied medicine and surgery at the University of Sydney, graduating in 1956. She worked in mental health, and became the Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Sydney. 

Personal life
From 1957 until his death in 2018, Bashir was married to former Sydney Lord Mayor Sir Nicholas Shehadie.

Bashir died on 20 January 2026 in Sydney, Australia at the age of 95.

Honors
She was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1988 for her services to child and adolescent health.

References

Category:1930 births
Category:2026 deaths
Category:Governors of New South Wales
Category:Australian medical doctors
Category:Australian academics
Category:University of Sydney alumni
Category:University of Sydney faculty