South Australia’s top 20 country netball legends revealed
With eight top-two A-Grade best-and-fairest finishes and a dozen team-of-the-year appearances, this netball legend is fast cementing her place as one of SA country’s greatest.
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What started as a run with friends and family has turned into a lifelong passion for Uraidla Netball Club legend Lauren Parker.
Beginning her career at just eight years old, Parker has progressed to become one of the most successful players in Uraidla Netball Club and Hills Netball Association history.
In a career spanning more than 250 games, Parker has done it all, representing the association and the state in multiple teams, while also winning nearly 10 A-grade association best and fairest award trophies – five as overall winner and three as runner-up.
This is not to mention multiple premierships for Uraidla, including last season.
The star defender also played for Woods Panthers in Premier League netball during her early years as a senior.
“To be honest, I really just played because my mum and a lot of people I went to school with played,” Parker said of the start of her career.
“I’m competitive and I enjoyed the competition pretty quickly, I just find a lot of fun in the sport.”
It did not take long for Parker to establish herself as an A-grade star for Uraidla, the club-favourite achieving three Courier League best and fairests in a row from 2008-10 for the Demons and making eight consecutive league teams of the year.
She then added more accolades to her resume after the league’s cessation at the end of 2016, dominating the Hills League for the club.
From 2017-21, Parker made every team of the year and added more best and fairest awards to her mantle.
While she appreciates individual honours, Parker’s fondest memories have been the premierships she has won with Uraidla.
“We’ve won a couple of premierships in a row now and I think those recent ones are probably the standouts,” she said.
“I’ve been lucky enough to be part of such a great team and a great environment.”
Uraidla – Parker’s hometown club – is special in Parker’s family: her mother and two aunts all previously playing for the Demons and representing the committee.
“It’s a really family-orientated club,” Parker said.
“Everyone at the club is lovely and we all get along. It’s always been like that.”
While Parker remains dominant on the court, she’s also a dedicated coach.
She has coached at Uraidla for over a decade, mainly taking charge of junior teams.
“I love coaching, it’s more about the tactical side things and making decisions based on what’s happening across the whole court.
“I decided to start coaching at the club just to give back what it has given me, and to see young kids develop, to be able to teach them the game and see them gradually improve and have fun.
That’s been super rewarding for me and I hope it’s rewarding for them as well.”
Parker is one of 20 regional stars named in our second SA country netball legends list.
The list aims to celebrate the contribution of players, coaches, administrators and volunteers who are the backbone of the sport across South Australia.
Here is our list, in no particular order.
LAUREN PARKER
(Hills Netball Association, Uraidla Netball Club)
A 250-game legend at hometown club Uraidla and the youngest life member in Hills Netball Association history, Parker’s resume in netball is hard to top.
A highly-talented defensive player, Parker made her senior debut aged just 15 and represented the HNA and South Australia for four consecutive years for the under-19 and under-21 teams.
After a stint with the Woods Panthers in the Premier League, Parker returned to Uraidla to win the Courier League best and fairest three years in a row from 2008-10 and feature in the team of the year eight times.
Her achievements continued in the HNA, winning multiple best and fairests, featuring in four teams of the year and winning multiple premierships including season 2021.
2018 was a standout year for Parker as she became the first in HNA history to win premiership player, best and fairest, best on court in a grand final and make the team of the year all in one season.
Parker has also dedicated herself to coaching for over a decade, namely guiding juniors at club and representative level.
BROOKE NEINDORF
(Great Flinders Netball Association, Tumby Netball Club)
Neindorf has been a highly successful coach in the Great Flinders Netball Association for over 20 years.
First a junior and then senior player for Tumby from 2001-2009, she has remained a coach of under-17s since 2004.
Neindorf was also GFNA vice president and then president from 2011-2014 and has continued her service as secretary and Country Championships coordinator.
ASTRID AITKEN
(Whyalla Netball Association, Warriors Netball Club)
With over 400 games as a player, Aitken has been a significant part of her club and the Whyalla Netball Association for around four decades.
While a talented player, Aitken’s best work has come as a coach, leading her sides to three A-grade premierships and being named coach of the year in three consecutive seasons from 2015-17.
JULIE TESTER
(Gawler and District Netball Association, Gumnuts Netball Club)
Tester has been at the helm of the Gumnuts Netball Club, which has a long history in the GDNA, for a total of 20 years so far.
Prior to her time as president, Tester was club secretary from 1999-2001.
She has also coached and managed various teams within the club at a junior and senior level through her years of service.
KAREN HURRELL
(Lock Netball Club, Great Flinders Netball Association)
Hurrell has contributed 25 years of service to the Lock Netball Club and the GFNA in multiple roles including as a coach, selector, association delegate, and president.
She has been the coach of multiple Lock Roos and GFNA junior sides, including successful under-13 teams from 1997-2018.
Hurrell has also been a selector of junior and senior teams for nearly 25 years.
She served as an association delegate from 1993-2014, a GFNA president in 2008 and 2009 and was also the Eyre Region president during those years.
NICKY SMITH
(River Murray Netball Association, Jervois Netball Club)
Smith has played over 450 games for Jervois since joining at the age of 13 in 1988, surpassing the River Murray Netball Association’s record of 320 in 2008.
She has won 11 premierships during her career and has also coached various junior teams for the Bluds.
The club has its courts named after Smith.
REBEKAH RASHEED
(Northern Areas Netball Association, Orrorroo Netball Club)
A stalwart at Orrorroo for over 15 years, Rasheed has played over 280 games for the club’s A Grade side and has also coached, umpired and had a significant hand in junior development.
The champion player is a Northern Areas best and has been a member of the Northern Areas Netball Association team of the year for over 10 consecutive years.
Rasheed is also a six-time A Grade premiership player with multiple Best on Court awards for finals, and has held multiple roles at Orrorroo including A-grade coach, umpire and as a member of the club committee.
DEB HALSE
(Great Southern Netball Association, Myponga Netball Club)
Halse remarkably played her 650th game for Myponga on Saturday at the age of 65.
A household name in country netball, Halse has played the sport for 54 years, 45 of those with Myponga.
Through that time, the legendary veteran has won 11 premierships (six A-grade), won five GSNA best and fairest awards and has also received association and club life memberships.
A self-confessed fitness machine, Halse is still in top condition and looks likely to add to her incredible resume.
JANE GOULD
(Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Netball Association)
Gould has been involved with the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Netball Association for decades and has held a number of roles.
A life member of the association, Gould remains an integral part of the KNTNA regional academy as coordinator, and has also been a coach of multiple association teams, namely juniors.
JESS TAMBLYN
(Hills Netball Association, Crafers Netball Club)
Tamblyn has played over 400 games for Crafers and has experienced a tonne of success throughout her time on the court.
A reliable defensive player, Tamblyn has won multiple best and fairests for her club and association and has also represented the association on a number of occasions.
SUE HENDRY
(Gawler and District Netball Association, multiple clubs)
Hendry has been playing netball for 50 years, playing across several clubs within the GDNA.
A zippy mid-court player who has the ability to make precise passes, Hendry has had successful careers with St Joseph’s Netball Club, Wasleys Neetball Club, Willaston Netball Club, St Georges Netball Club and Xavier Saints Netball Club.
EMILY AYLES
(Hills Netball Association, Uraidla Netball Club)
Another stalwart of the Uraidla Netball Club and a long-time teammate of Lauren Parker, Ayles has played almost 400 games for the Demons.
She was the first player to reach 150 Courier League games and is a former team of the year member, A-grade association best and fairest and has played in over 10 grand finals.
Ayles is as committed off the court as she is on it, filling roles such as club and association secretary, coach and umpire, and has been awarded with life memberships for her club and for the HNA.
OLIVIA BOLT
(River Murray Netball Association, Imperial Netball Club)
With 13 years of successful netball for Imps in the River Murray Netball Association, Bolt’s resume speaks for itself.
The legendary forward and former Imperials captain won seven association A-grade best and fairests from 2010-2019 and has eight premierships under her belt from seasons 2012, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 21.
Bolt is the only player to have played in all eight premierships for the club.
She has also coached numerous RMNA teams from under-13s all the way to A-grade and was awarded with life membership in 2021, a year in which she also won the Rural City of Murray Bridge female sportsperson of the year.
STACEY MORZER BRUYNS
(Mallee Netball Association, Murrayville Netball Club)
Described as a larger than life character, Morzer Bruyns is the current president of the Murrayville Netball Club and still leads the A-grade side on the court at the age of 47.
A tough opponent on the court, she has won a number of association best and fairest awards.
She has also coached multiple teams through her career and was awarded with life membership at her club this year.
JANINE HERRMANN
(Gawler and District Netball Association, St Georges Netball Club)
Herrmann started her netball career at eight years old for St Georges and never looked back.
She dominated through her junior years at the club, winning multiple best and fairest awards and representing the association at the Country Championships.
She formed an unstoppable partnership in attack with her sister, Leanne and was instrumental in her club’s run of premiership success in the through the 2000s, leading her A-grade side to eight premierships from 2003-14 and winning four association best and fairests in that span.
Herrmann also gave back off the court, dedicating herself to coaching, umpiring and becoming publicity officer for the GDNA management committee.
LYN STACEY
(Hills Netball Association, Heathfield Netball Club)
Stacey has been coaching for 42 years and has had a significant impact on the Heathfield Netball Club.
She has coached at every age level throughout her career, in some years coaching up to five separate teams at club and association level.
Stacey has enjoyed many successes and currently coaches her club’s under-11 and A2 sides.
A life member of the HNA with a passion for developing country players, Stacey has been a part of the HNA committee in roles such as treasurer, rep team coordinator, and coach coordinator.
DONNA DENTON
(Western Border Netball Association, Millicent Netball Club)
With over 400 games under her belt, Denton has been arguably the most impactful Western Border Netball Association player of all time.
She helped her club to its first premiership in 15 years during her first A-grade season in 2000 and has since gone on to win 17 of the next 21.
Denton has either played or coached in each victory.
The 43-year-old veteran has also won nine best and fairest awards in the association and represented the WBNA on multiple occasions.
MURIEL WALTER
(Mallee Netball Association, Lameroo South Netball Club, Lameroo North Netball Club, Lameroo Netball Club)
A long-time player within the association, Walter has countless club and MNA best and fairest awards to her name as well as multiple premierships.
Walter’s impact off the court is arguably bigger than her impact on it, the association stalwart holding numerous roles including coaching and umpiring roles, president at club and association level and is looked up to for advice from many within the MNA.
She is a club and association life member.
GABRIELLE MARSCHALL
(Barossa, Light and Gawler Netball Association, Tanunda Netball Club)
Marschall celebrated her 450th game for Tanunda this year, a major milestone in a career which began in 1984.
Competing in multiple senior sides through the 90s until now, Marschall has won five best and fairest awards and has been runner-up countless times.
She was awarded life membership at Tanunda in 2014.
BELINDA EATON
(Hills Netball Association, Heathfield Netball Club)
Eaton began her playing career at Heathfield in the early 90s at the age of six and has since become one of the club’s most important players and coaches.
She has been a reliable attacking player, only missing one season in 2012.
Eaton’s coaching prowess is well-revered at her club, the veteran has coached continuously since 2002 and coaches multiple teams at the club from juniors to seniors – often competing in finals.
She also started Heathfield’s Net-Set-Go program for juniors.
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