The 21-year old debuted in Round 1 of the 2019 Suncorp Super Netball season, when the GIANTS took on the Swifts in the season’s first edition of the Sydney Derby.
Being a Sydney local, running out on to the court for the first time at Qudos Bank Arena in front of friends and family was described as “the best feeling I’ve ever had.”
“It was honestly the best – my family was there, and my Grandma was there and knowing how much it meant to her – it was pretty special,” Parmenter said.
The 24-hour preparation, after being told at the captains run the day prior, included having to keep one of the biggest secrets of her life and about three hours sleep.
“I was pretty nervous, but I had a lot of exposure during pre-season and training in this environment constantly so you get use to the intensity. It was more the concept of not wanting to mess up and not wanting to let anyone down.”
“Physically and skilfully I knew I was ready to go, it was just the emotional side and the build-up,” she said.
With the departure of GIANT #4, Serena Guthrie, at the end of the 2018 season, Jamie-Lee Price has moved predominately into the C position, opening up the WD position for Parmenter to own.
And that she has. She has been quick in proving herself to the competition with Parmenter being named the Nissan Player of the Match in just her third match, playing against a star-studded Collingwood Magpies.
Head Coach Julie Fitzgerald has continued to be impressed and have faith in her, with Parmenter being named in the starting seven for every match this season, in either WD or C.
In her first season, she’s matched up against some of the best players in World Netball, including Laura Langman, Liz Watson and Kelsey Browne.
It’s not just on the court where she is making a name for herself – with the ‘Parmy Army’ cheer squad quickly growing in numbers in the stands.
Parmenter has been a part of the GIANTS setup since the formation of the club. She was involved for the first two seasons as a training partner, including two seasons participating in the Australian Netball League (ANL), to which she proved she was a force to be reckoned with.
It was her performance in the ANL competition that earned her the elevation into the 2019 SSN playing squad.
“I learnt so much from those two years and that was a big part of my journey towards having the skills and confidence to play at the next level.”
“Being in such a professional environment, with the partnership with the GIANTS AFL team, I was introduced to so many hard working and knowledgeable people.”
“Jess our dietician, Sim our trainer, Darren our Sports psychologist, masseuses, physios, video analysts and more. They all showed me a whole other aspect of netball.”
“I never realised how much goes on behind just the training and the games,” she admitted.
The training partner setup allows up and coming athletes that have been identified as having the potential to play at the top level the opportunity to train in a daily elite training environment, surrounded by some of the world’s best netballers – an opportunity that Parmenter relished in.
“I love the environment. I really look up to the older girls and I’ve really grown as a player and person. They really push you to be more than just a netball nerd.
“When Julie called me to offer me a spot as a training partner, I could never turn it down.
“Training alongside the likes of Serena Guthrie, Kim Green and Jamie-Lee Price – it was pretty obvious what an opportunity it was.
“I often still have to pinch myself.”
Parmenter praised her coach, for believing in her and the training partner system.
“When we have a coach like Julie, who really believes in her training partners, and when needed, she turns to them and not from other places, the training partner system is so valuable.”
In loving every minute of her GIANTS journey, she is excited for what the future of the sport holds.
“I love how netball celebrates empowering women and I’m excited about what netball does and will do for girls all around the world.”
Parmenter, a sport fanatic to this day, played touch football and athletics growing up – developing her love for the game of netball in a casual setting at school at the age of eight.
Fours years later, led by friends and encouraged by their parents, Parmenter went along to trial for a club team in Randwick and has not looked back since.
The friendships made through netball were the major influencer when it came to focusing on just one sport.
Soon after starting to play competitive netball, Parmenter was selected in the Sydney Netball Academy and her eyes were open to what was possible and the pathways available.
But it was a matter of wrong place at the right time that put Parmenter on the path to GIANT success.
Thinking she was at Academy trials, Parmenter found herself trialling for the state team.
She didn’t make it in year one, but it was the disappointment of missing out that spurred the motivation.
Watching on and looking in; making the state team became her childhood dream.
“My eyes were open; this is what I want to do.
“Every wish I had – it was to make the state team,” she confessed.
In aspiring to make the team, Parmenter added the yo-yo test to her daily training routine – her endurance a strength in her game today.
That following year the hard work paid off and she made the team.
“I was so over the moon when I made the team.
“I was having a bit of a rough time and I just felt like I had found my place – it was my escape – it was my happy place.
“Since then I have put absolutely everything into netball and I know it’s where I am meant to be” said Parmenter.