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| THE new Governor of NSW began her first press conference yesterday with a sly wink to her two delighted grandchildren. It was a warmhearted start to what promises to be an inclusive and progressive period for the office first held by Governor Phillip. Dr Marie Bashir's grandparents came from Lebanon in 1903. She was born at Narrandera in the Riverina and attended the local primary school before coming to town to study at Sydney Girls High. A socially active, passionate and compassionate woman, the professor of psychiatry was called into Bob Carr's office six weeks ago and asked to take on the role of the NSW Governor when Gordon Samuels retires in March. "I think he was very clear in describing what the role of the modern governor was, and I think we have almost identical views," Dr Bashir said yesterday. "Those views are about the governor's role in relating to all groups in our society and in particular in drawing in those who felt they are marginalised or forgotten or without a seat at the table and that includes rural people." "I'm sensitive to rural issues having been born in the country and having retained my affiliations and relationships with rural people." Mr Carr said yesterday he wanted a woman who would "breathe life" into the role and he appears to have picked the right woman. "I was absolutely flattened when he offered the job to me and when I came up for air I realised it would be a wonderful opportunity to go on and maybe build bridges to certain sections of our society," she said yesterday. Dr Bashir clearly intends to use her new position to champion causes close to her heart. "I am inspired to do something worthwhile," she said. In the past the psychiatrist has been involved with the Aboriginal land rights movement, Aboriginal health and mental health issues as well as being involved in a battle against the concentration of media ownership. Yesterday she had to skip a Christmas party for the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council at a local pub. Dr Bashir is married to Sir Nicholas Shehadie, the former Lord Mayor, former chairman of SBS and a Wallabies legend -- he captained the side three times. |
"He's a gentleman who's had, one might say, a considerable share of the limelight both through his sporting career and at the Town Hall in Sydney," she said. "He's delighted, genuinely so, to support me in this role. He's very much a people person." Sir Nicholas was there yesterday and appeared to be relishing his wife's new job. He is resigning his role as chair of the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust and the Casino Control Authority to be by Dr Bashir's side as the Governor's partner. "We've always worked as a team and it's about time I put something back for her," Sir Nicholas said. The couple have three children and at least two of their grandchildren made it to yesterday's press conference. Dr Bashir invited the two eight-year-old cousins, Persephone (Poppy) and Victoria up on to the stage to be with her. "They're actually very good friends of mine too," she said. "I have to say that when a difficult decision steps out of an issue for myself, turning to these two and asking them usually provides the right answer." Dr Bashir has lived in Mosman for more than 30 years and says she is in love with this city. "I have a devotion to Sydney," Dr Bashir said. "I get a sense of excitement every day I drive into the city down the Warringah Freeway. "I'm dazzled by its beauty, which is still capable of annulling some of the less attractive developments." Dr Bashir said she was raised to be socially aware. "Because of the family in which I was raised in the country, I've been encouraged to consider issues that impacted adversely on our nation, on our State, on our rural area, on sick people. "I think there'll be a number of issues that have been dear to my heart that will continue to be. "My parents were both extremely committed and loving citizens with great compassion. We were very fortunate to live in a beautiful country town with a significant Aboriginal population with whom they interacted a great deal." Dr Bashir described
the liberal-minded Governor General Sir William Deane as "as close
to perfect as a Governor-General can be..."
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