NSW Mourns First Female Governor

The state funeral for Dame Marie Bashir, New South Wales's first female Governor, is being held today at St James' Church in the city. Dame Marie, who died recently at the age of 95, served as the 37th Governor of NSW from March 2001 until October 2014. She consistently emphasized the importance of community connection, advising her successor to "listen to the people."

Dame Marie had an extensive career as a psychiatrist and a fervent advocate for mental health funding. Born in Narrandera in 1930, she followed her father into medicine, graduating from the University of Sydney. Her pioneering work spanned adolescent mental health, suicide prevention, and Indigenous programs. She was also a devoted wife and mother, married for 61 years to Sir Nicholas Shehadie, and served as Lady Mayoress of Sydney.