Our Patrons - South Eastern
The Governor: Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO
Professor Marie Bashir was born in Narrandera, NSW and is a medical graduate of the University of Sydney, a former medical resident officer of St Vincent’s Hospital and of The Children’s Hospital. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
Her key interests include child and adolescent depression, mental health issues affecting refugee and immigrant children, juvenile justice and Aboriginal health.
In 1987, she was appointed Director of the Community Health Services in the Central Sydney Area with an emphasis on early childhood services, migrant and indigenous health, the health needs of elderly people, and communicable illness.
In 1993, she was appointed Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Sydney and in 1994 the Clinical Director of Mental Health Services for the Central Sydney Area.
Having a special interest in indigenous health, Professor Bashir has travelled extensively to remote communities in Central Australia, the Kimberley and Arnhem Land to gain a closer understanding of issues of culture and history which impact significantly on health. In 1995, in a partnership with the Aboriginal Medical Service, Redfern, she established the Aboriginal Mental Health Unit, which provides regular clinics and counselling at both the Aboriginal Medical Service in Sydney and mainstream centres. Links to some indigenous rural communities have also been developed through the availability of Telemedicine technology.
Professor Bashir, the first woman to be appointed Governor of New South Wales, took up her office on 1 March 2001.
She became a Joint Patron of the Royal Flying Doctor Service in April 2001.
Professor Bashir is married to Sir Nicholas Shehadie. They have two daughters and a son and six grandchildren.
Sir Nicholas Michael Shehadie AC OBE
Sir Nicholas Shehadie is a former Captain of the Australian Wallabies and former President of Australian Rugby. From 1990 until 2001 he was Chairman of The Sydney Cricket and Sportsground Trust.
He was Lord Mayor of Sydney from 1973 to 1974 and was the Deputy Chief Commissioner of Sydney in 1988. He also served as Chairman of the NSW Migrant Employment and Qualifications Board and was the Chairman of Technical and Further Education NSW. He currently Chairs the Special Events Board for NSW.
From 1981 to 1999, Sir Nicholas chaired the Special Broadcasting Service.
He became Joint Patron of the Royal Flying Doctor Service in April 2001.