John Tomlinson is, among other things, a social worker, poet, political activist, amateur fisherman and brewer of fine coffee. He has campaigned since the 1960s for Aboriginal and workers’ rights and has been a persistent advocate for people living under colonial rule throughout the Asia-Pacific region. His involvement in the campaign for an independent East Timor began with the Indonesian military’s invasion of that territory in 1975 and continued throughout the 24 years of military occupation.