I am now retired living in the bush about 25 km west of Cooktown, Queensland, Australia on Cape York Peninsula. I was born in Montreal, Canada in 1943 and raised in Port of Spain, Trinidad. I am of English and French background with a dash of Beothuk.
I first came to Australia in 1964 and am now a citizen. Besides travelling widely, I trained as a young man as a Laboratory technician in virology in Trinidad, I have worked in fisheries research in Alaska both at sea and ashore (1962-63), and graduated as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse in Sydney, Australia (1967). I lived for more than three years in India doing research on Indian and Tibetan history and have travelled extensively in South Asia. I have worked for many years in remote Australian Aboriginal communities in a wide variety of positions.
I love the basic concept of the Wikipedia and constantly encourage others to contribute.
I am particularly concerned with ensuring the Wikipedia is not taken over by fanatics or used to promote fringe theories. I also make a point of adding or updating references, external links and items in "Further reading" sections, whenever possible. I also seem to spend an increasing amount of time trying to reverse the constant barrage of vandalism on the Wikipedia.
Asian history; particularly Chinese, Tibetan, Central Asian and Indian history and the development of trade routes both overland and maritime between East and West, and pre-historic contacts between Australia and other countries.
I have also published an article on the history of Khotan: Hill, John E.: "Notes on the Dating of Khotanese History." Indo-Iranian Journal 31 (1988), pp. 179-190.
My first book was originally published as: Through the Jade Gate to Rome: A Study of the Silk Routes during the Later Han Dynasty, 1st to 2nd Centuries CE. (2009). John E. Hill. (2009). BookSurge, Charleston, South Carolina. ISBN978-1-4392-2134-1. The second, much enlarged and updated edition, was published in 2 volumes in 2015 as: Through the Jade Gate - China to Rome: A Study of the Silk Routes 1st to 2nd Centuries CE, published by: Createspace Independent Publishing, Charleston, South Carolina. It is available through Amazon.com and many other booksellers.
Australian Aboriginal issues and culture.
West Indian (particularly Trinidadian) history and culture.
The history, wildlife and conservation of Cape York Peninsula and Cooktown.
Nature conservation and alternative energy sources.
I have made some contributions in all these areas as well as many others. I look forward to correspondence on any of them. I am able to contribute with an intermediate level of French and Spanish.
I award you this barnstar for the numerous excellent photographs of East Asia and elsewhere User:ZeimusuI've been waiting for the day when I would find that someone uploaded pictures to Maroon (people)!
The Tibetan Award of Compassion
For your outstanding work on imagery and patience at trying to improve Tibetan and Himalayan related articles. Hereby I present you this coveted Dalai Lama award. ♦ Sir Blofeld ♦"Expecting you"Contribs 11:01, 21 June 2007 (UTC)]]]]
The Rosetta Barnstar
For your contributions, translations, hard work, and efforts to improve Wikipedia. Congratulations! PHG 05:23, 22 July 2007 (UTC)
The Society Barnstar
For your contributions to articles on Indian social groups Amit 10:22, 18 July 2007 (UTC)
The Original Barnstar
Having seen your efforts on Jat-related pages I am awarding you this Most Highly Honoured Nasal Index barnstar for your efforts to maintain reason against the forces of the ethnocentrism Paul B 18:16, 11 June 2007 (UTC)
The Anti-Vandalism Barnstar
Dear John you are doing an excellent job on Jat People page by enriching it with true facts & fighting vandalism.User:Kshatrap 09:06, 23 June 2007 (UTC)
Wikipedia Award
I award this Barnstar to John for his great efforts in maintaining Jat Wiki Page unbiased. Neeraj Shokeen 13:55, 26 June 2007 (UTC)
The Vandal Whacking Stick
This should come in handy on the Jat people page. --Amit 11:39, 18 July 2007 (UTC)
Some of the photographs taken by myself which are available on Wikimedia Commons can be found at: [1]. Unfortunately, I am still trying to find other photos I uploaded years ago and have not yet been added to this list.
