The Royal Flying Doctor Service is deeply saddened by the passing of Dame Marie Bashir. Dame Marie Bashir’s relationship with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (South Eastern Section) was grounded in both personal commitment and professional conviction. She served as joint Patron of the RFDS South Eastern Section with her husband, the late Sir Nicholas Shehadie, during her term as Governor of New South Wales from 2001 to 2014.
Trained as a psychiatrist and respected nationally for her leadership in mental health, Aboriginal health and community‑based care, Dame Marie brought a clinician’s insight and compassion to her patronage. Her support reflected a deep alignment between her life’s work in medicine and the RFDS mission to deliver equitable healthcare to people living in regional and remote Australia.
Throughout her patronage, Dame Marie maintained a strong and genuine personal connection to the Service and to outback communities. In 2009, the Broken Hill base underwent redevelopment, and in that year alone, she made several visits to the Far West. We were honoured to have Dame Marie Bashir and Sir Nicholas Shehadie open the Clive Bishop Medical Centre, the first of our permanent GP clinics, and to host Dame Marie on visits to Lightning Ridge and Grawin, where she took a keen interest in understanding healthcare access and community need in rural settings.
In 2011, Dame Marie officiated the opening of the redeveloped Dubbo Base, including the introduction of a new dental service, an important milestone that supported the expansion of RFDS services into North Western NSW.
Together, Dame Marie Bashir and Sir Nicholas Shehadie were generous and enduring advocates for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in New South Wales, exemplifying a shared lifetime commitment to public service, leadership and community wellbeing.
The RFDS extends its deepest condolences to Dame Marie Bashir’s family, loved ones and all who mourn her passing. We are grateful for her patronage, her compassion and the legacy she leaves in service to others.
