Vera E. Hopton began her journey in Calisthenics as a tiny girl in the early 1900s, stepping into her first class at the Wesley Central Mission Girls’ Guild, dressed in the iconic navy serge Guild costume. From that moment, she dedicated her life to the development and elevation of physical culture for girls and women across Victoria. Through decades of teaching, performing, and mentoring, she transformed Calisthenics from a series of simple drills into a sophisticated, expressive artform.   

Her leadership of Bosworth Physical Culture College and the founding of Clifton Calisthenic College created a network of highly trained teachers and performers whose influence is still felt today. Vera’s work with blind and deaf children, her pioneering choreography, and her commitment to education set a powerful example of what Calisthenics could be—a platform for joy, strength, storytelling and inclusion.  

The Vera E. Hopton Trophy is named in an incredible woman’s honour of everything she championed and valued during her life in calisthenics: discipline, creativity, inclusivity, and service to the community.