Branches & Regional Groups :: Our Patron

Her Excellency Professor Marie Roslyn Bashir AC CVO is the current Governor of New South Wales and Patron of the NSW Branch.

In 1988 Professor Bashir was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for her work with young Australians in the area of mental health.

In 2001 Professor Bashir was appointed Governor of New South Wales on the recommendation of the Premier, Bob Carr. Later that year she was made a Companion of the Order of Australia.

Also in 2001 she assented to become the Patron for the New South Wales Branch of the Order of Australia Association and has been so ever since.

Professor Bashir is the first female Governor of New South Wales and the first Governor of any Australian state of Lebanese descent. In 2006 the Queen appointed Professor Bashir a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO).

She is married to former Lord Mayor of Sydney (also former Wallaby Captain), Sir Nicholas Shehadie, AC, OBE. She is thus formally Lady Shehadie. They have three children and six grand-children.

Her interests include:

• juvenile justice
• research on adolescent depression
• health issues in developing countries
• education for health professionals
• telemedicine and new technologies for health service delivery

- Thanks to Wikipedia for information.

To foster love of and pride in Australian citizenship and to uphold the high principles and prestige of the Order of Australia
The Order of Australia Association Limited ACN 008 612 664 - A Company Limited by Guarantee