Local café found an unexpected way to support Ukraine—here’s how!

International diplomacy often plays out in grand halls and high-stakes meetings, but sometimes, the ripple effects reach the most unexpected places.

When a global controversy unfolded on the world stage, a small-town Australian couple found themselves deeply moved—so much so that they decided to take matters into their own hands.

What followed was an unconventional stand, a bold statement, and a commitment to a cause that stretched far beyond their quiet village.


When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with then-US President Donald Trump at the White House, the exchange left a lasting impression on a couple living in rural New South Wales.

Jan Giles and Adrian Sykes, from the small village of Binalong, were shocked by how Zelensky was treated during the meeting.

‘I was disgusted because here’s this man, coming for help and he’s belittled,’ Giles said.


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Binalong café owners take a stand for Ukraine. Image source: ABC Central West/Hamish Cole


‘It’s schoolyard bullying and we don’t accept that anywhere.’

‘You don’t treat anyone like that, let alone a head of state and for it to be on the world stage, [it’s] absolutely unbelievable.’

Determined to show their support for Ukraine, the couple introduced what they called ‘tariffs’ on American-made products at their café.

Before the US government announced a 25 per cent tariff on Australian steel and aluminium, Giles and Sykes had already imposed their own version of a tax on certain US goods, with the funds directed to aid efforts in Ukraine.

‘We call it a tariff because I think it’s the word of the week,’ Sykes said.


A $1 charge was added to Coca-Cola products, while Jim Beam and Cola faced a $2 increase.

Jack Daniels and Jim Beam were removed from the café’s shelves entirely since they were produced and shipped from the United States.

In another symbolic move, the couple decided to display the American flag upside down in their café.

‘It actually symbolises a state of distress,’ Sykes said.

‘I feel that’s how America is going at the moment.’


The initiative followed a community fundraiser organised by Giles and Sykes after they saw the now-infamous White House meeting.

Musicians volunteered their time, and people from across the district attended, including a Ukrainian family who had heard about the event.

‘It was wonderful, they all came in the Ukraine colours and they were just absolutely over the moon,’ Giles said.

Between the tariffs and the fundraiser, more than $2,000 had been donated to the Australian Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal.

To further their impact, the café pledged to match every dollar raised through their campaign.


‘We should be [able to raise] around $800, maybe $1,000 a quarter, and over a period of a year that would equate to maybe $3,000–4,000 a year,’ Sykes said.

He added that their goal was simply to help in any way they could, especially given what Ukraine had endured and the treatment Zelensky received from Trump and then-US Vice President JD Vance.

The couple planned to continue their efforts until they saw a change in Trump’s stance on Ukraine.

‘Binalong is not going to change the world [but] something like this can sometimes catch on a little bit,’ Sykes said.


In a previous story, former US President Donald Trump appeared confused when questioned about the AUKUS deal, a key security pact between Australia, the UK, and the US.

His response raised eyebrows, adding to concerns about his approach to international relations.

Read more about the moment that left many questioning his grasp on global affairs.

Key Takeaways
  • A rural Australian couple, Jan Giles and Adrian Sykes, were outraged by how Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was treated by then-US President Donald Trump and decided to take action.
  • They imposed ‘tariffs’ on American-made products at their café, adding extra charges to certain items and removing US-branded alcohol, with proceeds going to aid Ukraine.
  • Their efforts followed a community fundraiser that attracted widespread support, including from a Ukrainian family, and helped raise over $2,000 for the Australian Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal.
  • The couple vowed to continue their campaign until Trump’s stance on Ukraine changed, believing small actions could inspire broader awareness.

With their small-town initiative making waves, it raises an interesting question—can grassroots actions like this truly influence global conversations?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
 

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I was brought up to always respect your host especially if you come over with a begging bowl. What you don’t pick up from the local media which, almost always use extreme left outlets such as CNN, MSNBC and the like, is that Zelensky met with the Democrats before that meeting and was advised to act in the way he finally did. Do not forget also that it was a media conference to announce that US and Ukraine had reached an agreement on rare earth metals etc. and not a place to
treat your host in such a condescending way publicly. The cafe owners are free to do whatever they want within reason but remember that if you took that view for every conflict in the world their shelves may be depleted. They certainly should boycott anything from the EU which is collaborating to take away Australia’s and other nations’ sovereignty through RESET pushing for a UN run World Government.
WHOA COULDNT HAVE WRITTEN IT BETTER MYSELF AND SO TRUE.
 
Wow how stupid are these people? Do they realise that the ukraine president was appealing to the american public to be allowed to join NATO? Which Trump shut down why? The ukraine is at war with Russia if they joined NATO all the countries in NATO INCLUDING AUSTRALIA WOULD BE AT WAR NOW!! MAYBE some research should have happened before this stupid stunt!!
Australia is not part of NATO - it is the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
 
Well he does have a $34 million house in the US - a house in Israel - and millions in bank accounts that is known about. Possibly squirreled away from US money to fight?
Really? $34 million house?

As of mid 2018, Zelensky has 38 million hryvnias in assets - about US$900000! In March this year, his assets were estimated to be US$20 million to US$30 million. Contrary to misinformation, Forbes' 36th annual World’s Billionaires List does not have Zelensky anywhere making that list. He has no US properties, unless you believe far right propaganda coming from the likes of Rumble, et al.

And do you think that military aid afforded to another country is delivered in banknotes and coins? Ha ha ha!

If Zelensky is in the back pocket of the CIA, why did they cut off all intelligence reports to the Ukraine two weeks ago? As suggested by another SDC poster.

Verifiable information is a rare commodity on SDC unless you read conspiracy theory blogs and the like.
 
No one is impressed with name calling it is childish. Ur getting a bit ahead of urself a treaty hasn't been reached yet, the military is no place if u don't want ur life at risk. The peace keeping force is imo a token gesture as a member of the Democratic free world alliance it is necessary, just like those in the UN peace keeping forces, this is not new.
And peace keepers have been killed .
 
Really? $34 million house?

As of mid 2018, Zelensky has 38 million hryvnias in assets - about US$900000! In March this year, his assets were estimated to be US$20 million to US$30 million. Contrary to misinformation, Forbes' 36th annual World’s Billionaires List does not have Zelensky anywhere making that list. He has no US properties, unless you believe far right propaganda coming from the likes of Rumble, et al.

And do you think that military aid afforded to another country is delivered in banknotes and coins? Ha ha ha!

If Zelensky is in the back pocket of the CIA, why did they cut off all intelligence reports to the Ukraine two weeks ago? As suggested by another SDC poster.

Verifiable information is a rare commodity on SDC unless you read conspiracy theory blogs and the like.
Cheers! VegiePatch and thank you for setting the record right!!
 
Any country a signatory to NATO would be at war! Educate yourself it will be enlightening - or maybe not as you think you know everything!
Well my dear, one thing is for sure, you don`t know everything, even though you think that you`re an expert!! How about you do a bit of real research and stop using propaganda to back your comments.!!!
 
Binalong is now on the map from the brave actions of this couple-- makes me proud to be Australian
Trump still thinks that Turnbull is the Australian leader in his response to the call to dump the sub deal --
we need more small business to join the protest and ban the sale of USA products and then add their names to TIC TOK to grow the resistance to the USA deceit and treatment of Ukraine and Zelensky
Binalong time since I've visited? Be an even longer time time before I revisit?
 
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Do you realise that Trump wants the war to end ??
standing with Ukraine means you support the war also !! Idiot
Hahaha….more fool you @Rickcb63!! Do you realise how far up Putin’s ar*e that Trump is? He’ll say anything to be Putin’s “good buddy”.

Trump doesn’t want peace. He wants applause.
Putin and Trump are evil and revel in it.
 

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