Sobia Hashmi and her husband Irfan seem like an ordinary couple. Migrants from Pakistan, Sobia and Irfan juggle parenting four children, running multiple businesses and an active social life. When asked about what connects them to South Australia, their answer is immediate: community.
Over the past 20 years, this remarkable couple has transformed healthcare access across remote and rural South Australia, establishing six pharmacies in areas where none previously existed — places where people once had to travel hours for basic medications and care.
Irfan says about their work: “Our inspiration comes from witnessing firsthand the disparities in healthcare access. Seeing how geography can limit essential services motivates us to be part of the solution. We believe everyone deserves equitable access to healthcare, regardless of where they live.”
But opening pharmacies was only the beginning. Understanding that truly serving a community means speaking its language, Sobia and Irfan have built a team that collectively speaks 21 languages, ensuring that some of the state’s most vulnerable populations receive culturally sensitive healthcare close to home. Their commitment extends beyond their own practices too — they have mentored countless overseas pharmacists, coordinated multilingual education programs and run free weekly webinars that have helped 4,000 pharmacists pass their exams in the last year alone, bringing vital healthcare workers into regional Australia.
Sobia and Irfan were voted South Australia’s Local Heroes in the Australian of the Year Awards 2025. “Receiving the Local Hero Award was incredibly humbling. It affirmed the work we are passionate about and reminded us that even small efforts can have a significant impact. Above all, it has strengthened our commitment to serving our community,” says Sobia.
Beyond the pharmacy, Irfan’s Australian Pavilion Cricket Museum tells another story of connection — one where sport becomes a bridge between cultures. As pharmacists and cricket enthusiasts, the couple believes that sports are “more than just games; they are an integral part of our culture, history, and identity.” The museum celebrates how cricket and soccer have woven themselves into South Australia’s multicultural tapestry, preserving the legacy of these beloved sports while fostering deeper understanding across communities.
“Cricket has always been a unifying force for us, bringing people together across diverse cultures and backgrounds. Our passion for equal opportunity stems from the belief that sport should be inclusive and accessible to all, providing a platform for talent, confidence, and community building,” the couple say.
Together, Sobia and Irfan embody what it means to build connections from the ground up — one prescription, one conversation, one shared story at a time. Their work reminds us that connection is not just about being present; it is about showing up in ways that truly matter.
Find more incredible stories about the faces of the campaign in the History Festival program or on the website: festival.history.sa.gov.au
