Andrea Hopson

1999 to 2003

Not only was Andrea an academic gaining an A Bursary and Scholarship in Geography, she was a very accomplished sportswoman and an artist.

At school Andrea was involved in many sporting and cultural activities including:

  • House Leader 2003
  • Secretary of Senior Executive 2003
  • Senior School Ball Committee 2003
  • Metso Minerals Art Award 2002
  • College A Netball
  • Senior A Volleyball
  • Swimming, Cross Country and Athletics teams
  • Represented school at Thames Valley, Waikato and National Levels during school years

 

Andrea received the Special Contribution to School Life Award and gained Most Persevering Sportswomen in 2003.

 

On leaving school Andrea headed to University of Otago in Dunedin and graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy in 2007.  She won a number of awards including the New Zealand Society of Physiotherapists Incorporated Otago Branch Prize in 2006 for best overall standard in clinical practice in the third year of the course and received the Sue Ford Memorial Prize in 2007 for Wellington Centre Best Overall Standard.

 

Andrea travelled to Australia in 2009 and commenced the position of Staff Physiotherapist at Goldfields Physiotherapy Services in Western Australia.  She is now Assistant Physiotherapy Manager and Senior Physiotherapist at the practice.  Her primary areas of interest include clinical pilates, women’s health, integrated systems assessment, the thoracic ring approach, kinesio taping, superficial dry needling and management of longstanding or recurrent injuries/dysfunction.  She is also involved with staff training and mentoring for other physiotherapists.

 

Prior to shifting to Australia Andrea worked as a physiotherapist at the Waikato District Health Board in Hamilton.

Andrea has always been very active and in 2009 completed an Outward Bound experience.  She also played premier netball for Melville whilst in Hamilton.

Andrea is completing the year in her current job before heading overseas to do further travelling.  She is living with her New Zealand partner, Benjamin Buchanan who was originally from the Thames Coast.

Andrea’s siblings Christine (now in London) and Brendan both attended Matamata College as did her parents – Murray Hopson and Sandra Hopson (Brooks).