ON THE WALLABY- 15th April 2006

PROFESSOR MARIE BASHIR- A WOMAN WHO PUTS RESPECABILITY BACK INTO POLITICAL AND PUBLIC LIFE

" Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has” – Margaret Mead, Anthropologist

In times where politicians en masse are on the nose, and none more so than here in Australia with the ineptitude and duplicity shown by Howard, Downer, Vaile et al, the incompetency of Beazley and overseas by President Bush and his cohorts, a “stand out” as a beacon of hope for decency heads to Canberra next week for a two week stint as Governor-General of Australia.

The woman concerned, Professor Marie Bashir, the Governor of New South Wales, is assuming that role whilst the current Governor, Major-General Michael Jeffrey is overseas attending Anzac Day celebrations.

I have had the pleasure of meeting this diminutive lady on a couple of occasions and observing her in close quarters as she “worked the crowd” and I suppose after having spent many years doing likewise with others who’ egos carried them far above their allotted stations in life, you get to know quality when you see it.

That she has in spade fulls and as my late father always said, “it is the little things people do that tells you all about them”.

These include, as reported in today’s Sydney Morning Herald article by Tony Stephens on her, things such as stoppoing the Vice Regal car to see if a body in the gutter was alive or dead and ion finding “the body” to be pissed as a newt, taking him home, finding out his telephone number and calling the next day to see if he was OK. As Tony Stephens quite rightly asked, did he ever know who it was that picked him up?

Another example, also reported, that when she was opening a home in western Sydney for homeless man and men at risk of suicide, she asked one could she cuddle him?

Of Lebanese descent (her family came to Australia in the late 1800’s) she was clinical professor of psychiatry at Sydney University and Director of Mental Health Services with the NSW Department of Health before becoming the 37th Governor of NSW.

Married to former Sydney Lord Mayor and former Wallaby Captain Nick Shehadie, she sets a shining example to myself and others about what can be accomplished in a quiet and elegant manner and be doing so much for the much assaulted “multi cultural” image in Australia.

Republican though I be, if she ever put her hand up to run for President, I’m on her side!!

Carpe diem

Tony

Tony Fountain

Professional Speaker, auctioneer and author

Sydney NSW Australia

If you would like to subscribe a friend or colleague to these free “On the Wallaby” email bulletins, click here and place their email address in the subscription