'Own person’: Parkinson on juggling life

By Stephanie Smarrelli 
 

With a season ending injury at the start of 2024, there’s no doubt the last year has been tough for Melbourne Mavericks defender Lauren Parkinson (nee Moore). 

But there’s been one shining light throughout that time. 

Her husband Josh, who she married in September. 
 
Josh has been by her side through every hurdle life has thrown their way. 

“We’ve been together for eleven years but have known each other for donkeys,” Parkinson said. 
 
“One of my first memories was getting my phone call from Rob Wright and he was offering me a contract with the Swifts while I was still in Year 12. 

“I remember telling my teacher an excuse so I could leave the classroom, and I ran to the other side of the school where Josh was to tell him I got my first contract.” 

Although the two have been together since high school, the defender’s crush started when she was in primary school, having seen Josh at little athletics.  

Many years later, almost to the day they first started dating, the couple tied the knot. 

"It was probably one of the best things to happen, to have a wedding to plan to keep me busy,” she said. 

“I couldn't work, my training was very different to what I was used to, the wedding was a nice distraction from the hard times. 

“Planning a wedding was stressful but it was good fun, it was the best day.” 

Everything went to plan on their big day, the wedding was a tight-knit affair with 45 of the couple’s nearest and dearest, the weather was perfect, and the couple created memories they will hold onto for life. 

Reflecting back on the decision to join the Mavericks, Parkinson recalled how Josh reacted to the news. 

“He was away on a buck’s trip, when he left I was going to be playing for the GIANTS and our life wasn't going to change at all,” she said. 

“Then he came back and all of a sudden I was moving to Melbourne, it was a surprise, but he was super supportive of my decision.”  

Parkinson explained how the couple’s “unorthodox relationship” has made them strong over the years. 

 “We've been together but not stuck like glue and that's why we are where we are today,” she said. 

“We left school and I moved to Sydney straight away for netball while he travelled up north to go to university, then we had the hubs and we couldn't see each other very often, then we lived together and now he still lives in NSW but comes and stays in Melbourne for a few months at a time. 

“The fact we’ve spent quite a lot of time apart means I know who I am, we've grown up together but apart at the same time. I’m my own person and so is he and we do life together. 

“Someday we'll be living on our farm, spending every single day together, we will forget about all the time we spent apart, it’ll be great.”  

With Melbourne now home, Parkinson opened up on why she decided to leave NSW in the first place. 

“I was at a point in my career where I wasn't feeling I was reaching my full potential and I was never out of my comfort zone,” she said. 

“I was craving a bit of specialised defensive coaching; I wasn't quite getting that with the GIANTS.  

"When Tracey Neville reached out, as soon as I started speaking to her about the prospect of being a Mav, I felt in my gut I needed to go. 

“I owed it to myself to come to Melbourne, I never really thought I'd see myself living in Melbourne, I always thought I'd be a NSW girly, but here I am, it didn't really go to plan but I don't regret it." 

The defender is still able to vividly recall when those plans fell apart. 
 
“I don’t think I’ve screamed like that in my whole life,” she said. 

Parkinson having every netballers’ worst nightmare come to life, an ACL injury.  

In addition to the ACL, her MCL and meniscus were also badly damaged.   

“I felt my whole leg, it was unbearable,” Parkinson said.  

“I knew straight away, as I was walking off, I felt nothing was holding my leg together, just skin and bones.”  

Luckily for Parkinson, she had her whole family at the pre-season match in Sydney for immediate support.  

"Josh came into the room when I got taken around the back and we were in all sorts for about 10 minutes,” she said.  

“It's such a horrendous memory, it was really sad but at the same time special, he felt like he had done his ACL as well.   

“My mum, dad, nan, everyone was there. My brother and his wife and their newborn baby were there and it was the baby’s first netball game.   

"It was nice to have them all there to distract me from the fact my season was done.” 

Alongside Parkinson every step of the way have been her teammates, two becoming rocks for her to lean on. 

“I’m really lucky to be a teammate of Parmy (Amy Parmenter), she was right there by my side, and I live with her as well,” she said. 

“No one wants to have another person hurt themselves but Sasha having broken her leg a month or so before myself it was quite comforting to know I was never really alone in the situation. 

“She knew exactly how I was feeling, the excitement and the opportunity of coming to a new club and being part of something completely fresh was stripped from us.” 

The rehab journey has been slow for Parkinson, but she can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

“I was always going to miss a full year, my surgeon took quite a slow approach at the start to protect my meniscus,” she said. 

“The first two months, I spent at home on the NSW Central Coast, which was really hard because as much as it was great being wrapped up by my friends and family, I didn't get to be with the Mavs for the start of the season. 

“I missed out on the first win and singing the song for the first time which was really hard but it was what I needed... I felt my heart needed a little bit of time away because of how serious my injury was.” 

Since returning to Melbourne, the rehab journey has been smooth sailing for the defender. 

"I haven't really had any setbacks, I've ticked off all the boxes as they've come along, which I've been super grateful for,” she said. 

“I'm back on court and contesting right now, I feel like a netballer again for a long time I felt like a great walker.  

"I don't want to say the hard part's over but I'm getting excited now because I can really see the light at the end of the tunnel.” 

Away from netball, Parkinson spends time as a support worker for What Ability, a not-for profit charity bringing fun community experiences to the lives of people with disability. 

The defender first started with the company after being inspired by some of her friends while she was in NSW.  

“I wish I started it sooner, from my first day I loved it,” she said. 

“It gives me so much perspective on life, I get to go and make someone's day by playing bowling with them or going to the beach. 

“It’s amazing to see how the simplest things bring people joy.” 

While injured, Parkinson had a tough time finding her purpose. 

"It was a bit of a struggle because I felt I wasn't Lauren the netballer, I wasn't Lauren the support worker, I was in this limbo land,” she said. 

“A lot of the work stuff you'll see on my Instagram is glamorous, but I don't show the challenging times as much. 

“But it's such a rewarding job no matter how hard a day might be it doesn't feel like work.” 

Now back working for What Ability, the 27-year-old is optimistic she’ll be back on the SSN court soon. 

“I don't know if it will be Round 1, but it will be early in the first couple of weeks,” she said. 

“I should be playing netball before then but we haven’t yet got an actual plan for a set date.” 

Asides from stepping onto the court again, Parkinson has two goals for 2025. 

"I would love to come back bigger and better,” she said. 

“A lot of us are off contract after this season and I want to be around for a couple more years, I'd love to lock in another contract so I can come back, get on the court and stay on the court. 

"I want to enjoy my netball, I've gone without it for quite some time and I really want to show everyone who I am and want people to remember my name. 

“I’d also love to win another premiership, this time as a Mav.” 


_{Pictures supplied by Lauren Parkinson.}