I will be forever grateful to you Lou for taking Mitchell under your wing as a junior referee. Maroubra United and ESFA have lost a little treasure. You were always there giving guidance, encouragement and humour - you had a wonderful spirit and I had the utmost admiration and respect for you. Your passion and strength of character won you friends everywhere. I will miss our chats, our emails and our laughs - you were an incredible inspiration to us all. Thank you for everything, I always told you you were such a darling to us and now you are at peace and free from pain ... I will miss you dearly. RIP you will never be forgotten.

I first met Louise pre-season when I 'volunteered' to coach the 'well' Over 35 women one night at Maroubra United. What a challenge that could have been. Fortunately I had the assistance of Louise. She quickly gave me a run down on all the personalities in the team: the good, the bad and the outrageous. After that experience we became good friends and I became accustomed to hugging. I subsequently coached the ESFA ladies in the Masters Games and again Louise was the peacemaker, the advisor and the go-to person when things looked grim. I also started refereeing and clearly we were now following parallel paths . . . I loved talking or should I say listening to Louise tell me about what we needed to do to look after the junior referees. I agreed with it all and made the wellbeing of junior referees a key concern of mine. Louise and I became entertwined in all things football . Whether it was club matters or refereeing issues, my inbox was always filled with advice, suggestions and goodwill from Louise. That's not to say everything was perfect. Louise loved a discussion or a debate but it always ended with a hug. I shall miss not hearing from or seeing Louise in my footballing travels. It is indeed unfortunate that we will no longer have the benefit of her good counsel; good wisdom nor good hugs. I shall miss you Louise. Paul

I remember first meeting Lou at a soccer game at Hensley field on finals day. I met her many times afterwards, sat on tribunals with her, shared a joke, annoyed each other, but always in good humour. A great loss to the game and the community Until you’ve been flashed by an older age goalkeeper when you try to photograph her... you haven’t lived. (there was a sports bra underneath) She will be sorely missed, for her humour, her good nature, and her insightfulness. Regards Steve (Referee, and fellow gpt member)

My dear friend Dr Louise Mazzaroli, "One Bung Lung Lou", "Dr Lou" or simply, "The Doc" was a ray of sunshine in my life from the very first night I met her. 2003 - the University of NSW Football Club annual presentation dinner. I was representing Football NSW as a guest presenter. I had the honour of presenting the award for most valuable player in senior women's football. Dr Louise Mazzaroli was the worthy recipient in her first year of football as a player - the goalkeeper no less! - at the tender age of 53!! Lou was so happy that she hugged me, a complete stranger, repeatedly! Over the years following, we faced each other on the football battlefield as opponents, and later as team-mates in several 6-a-side winning teams. Lou joined me as a member of the General Purposes Tribunal at Football NSW, bringing her unique and tangential approach to some significant problems in the sport, with professionalism, commitment, and good humour. The Doc as a passionate advocate for female participation in the world game. This passion inspired me to work towards creating an Over 35 women's competition in the Eastern Suburbs Football Association from 2007. That competition grew and thrived under Louise's committed participation and contagious enthusiasm. Dr Lou could not rest as a mere player in the beautiful game. She pressed forward to make a name for herself as a referee. She looked really good in black and white, or so she told me! Lou often derived her greatest joy from overseeing junior games and delighted especially in the "littlie's" from 6 to 10 years of age. What a character! What an inspiration! What a joy to be around! When speculating about the triumphs and achievements of a life lived with passion and purpose, one need look no further than the roadmarks characterised by the amazing and eclectic high calibre folks that Lou so easily attracted into her carefully tended circle of friends. Youze all know who youze are... While her choice in English Premier League football club was stoic, yet humourous (Westham Utd.... for goodness sake!) the Doc would delight in hours of cross examination of the highs and lows of the game she loved from the time she was a little girl and her dad took her to watch the big boys at Leichhardt. One of Lou’s favourite photos was a snap of herself and former Captain of the "Matilda's" Cheryl Salisbury with Vice Captain Heather Garriock. I’d like to believe that the Doc was dreaming of the day she'd receive her first "call up" to a Matilda's training camp as a goalkeeper par excellence when she chose to quietly shuffle off in her sleep with no fuss and no fanfare last Friday. I will carry Lou's light in my heart as long as I draw breath. I miss her but I know she is deliriously happy kicking footballs and slamming around the squash courts of the promised hereafter. Bon voyage, and au revoire Dr Louise Mazzaroli. With much love, JODIE

What a fighter you were. A great spirit. An increadible inspiration to all of us. You have been in my thoughts a great deal over the past months during this testing time, and now... finally... you are at peace. You will be missed. All our love.