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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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.
Yeah, OK ,the UN did a shithot job in lebanon, terrorist bunkers and tunnels right under there noses and towers, firing rockets at will, peacekeepers have been reduced to toothless tigers with all the over the top guidelines they have to follow, seen some African nations lately. The UN is outdated,corrupt ,incompetent and should go in the same direction as The league of nations.
 
Never take your eyes off the mechanism of US war machine. Manufacture a war, supply arms to the combatants, and occasionally join in for the party. All the while, making billions off countries that can't afford it, at the expense of its citizens.

From the end of World War II until 2018, the US were involved overtly and covertly in no less than 85 military conflicts throughout the world, mainly centering on Central and South America, as well as Africa.
 
Never take your eyes off the mechanism of US war machine. Manufacture a war, supply arms to the combatants, and occasionally join in for the party. All the while, making billions off countries that can't afford it, at the expense of its citizens.

From the end of World War II until 2018, the US were involved overtly and covertly in no less than 85 military conflicts throughout the world, mainly centering on Central and South America, as well as Africa.
Bay of pigs comes to mind!
 
Bay of pigs comes to mind!
So right!

The war between Iraq and Iran, known as the First Gulf War, was funded by the US. They supplied military aid to one side, then during the course of the conflict, supplied arms to the other side, in order to propagate the conflict further and eventually join in.
 
So right!

The war between Iraq and Iran, known as the First Gulf War, was funded by the US. They supplied military aid to one side, then during the course of the conflict, supplied arms to the other side, in order to propagate the conflict further and eventually join in.
Kinda reminds you of an unknown mob called the taliban in Afghanistan, they were pretty parchel to US weaponry to, that worked out well didn't it, oh and back to the cafe, I'd probably go to the pub :rolleyes:.
 
Get your facts straight!
Girls, girls ... I could be wrong, but could I be right in suggesting the name "First Gulf War" is generally given to the stoush between Iraq and the US-led coalition (1990-1991)? It was also called Desert Shield/Storm.
Anyhow, they've been fighting in the Middle East since Christ was a kid, and they'll continue to do so while religious differences remain and oil keeps flowing and the world stays dependent on it and the nations who don't have it want it and are prepared to go to war over it (amongst other things), so it's a moot point.
 
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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
Good lord what bubble are you living in?? You have no idea what is going on and as far as your silly dialogue about turnball wake up!
 
Great stance to take - as someone else commented "from little acorns"! The world needs to stand up to the bully in the White House. He and Vance were incredibly rude to Zelensky and showed themselves for what they are - playground bullies. When Zelensky (quite rightly) refused to sign an agreement to provide millions of dollars of minerals to the US, without any form of guaranteed support from the US, Trump again showed his childishness by turfing him out of the White House. Trump then played fast and loose with lives by pausing aid and exchange of intelligence to Ukraine. Trump wants to become a dictator and he is well on his way to achieving that goal unless he is stopped by either legal means or by psychiatric intervention.
Sounds like you are the one who needs the psychiatric intervention! Your story is concerning for it is not true! Wake up!
 
Yeah, OK ,the UN did a shithot job in lebanon, terrorist bunkers and tunnels right under there noses and towers, firing rockets at will, peacekeepers have been reduced to toothless tigers with all the over the top guidelines they have to follow, seen some African nations lately. The UN is outdated,corrupt ,incompetent and should go in the same direction as The league of nations.
Yes and shit hot job in Serbia/Croatia as well! Stood there with their hands in pockets and watched people getting slaughtered!
I have had no time for the UN at all since then!
 
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Conspiracy theory? Declare the evidence!!
We have but you are too lazy to check the records of agreements made in the past - from the Cold War to now. The agreement was NATO would not have involvement with countries bordering on Russia - they have broken that agreement and Russia will go to war to protect their borders.
 

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