U.S. Army Lt. Jared McCully holds a discussion with Indonesian and Australian troops outside the Flagstaff Hill Cafe in Bowen, Australia, Thursday, July 27, 2023. (Jennessa Davey/Stars and Stripes)
BOWEN, Australia — A small cafe nestled on a high cliff in this small coastal town has transformed into an impromptu meeting place for U.S. and Australian troops engaged in Talisman Sabre training.
The Flagstaff Hill Cafe serves Australian takeaway dishes such as fish and chips and meat pies and Vietnamese specialties such as pho in the town just shy of 10,000 on the eastern Australia coast.
For the past month, high-ranking military officers have joined the tourists at the cafe’s lookout over McCanes Bay, where the U.S. Army and Navy is holding sea-to-beach logistics training as part of the exercise.
For the past month, high-ranking military officers have joined the tourists at Flagstaff Hill Cafe's overlook at McCanes Bay, Australia, where the U.S. Army and Navy is holding sea-to-beach logistics training. (Jennessa Davey/Stars and Stripes)
U.S. Army Lt. Jared McCully speaks to Indonesian service members outside the Flagstaff Hill Cafe in Bowen, Australia, Thursday, July 27, 2023. (Jennessa Davey/Stars and Stripes)
The soldiers brought more than binoculars to Bowen. The town is experiencing an economic windfall of about $5 million in consumer spending directly associated with the exercise, Army Lt. Jared McCully told Stars and Stripes on Thursday, citing a local economic development report.
“Soldiers, of course, patronize local shops, taverns, bars, restaurants, barber shops, clothing stores, souvenir stands, Airlie Beach for tourism,” he said. “So, it’s been a huge injection into the economy, as this is typically their offseason a little bit.”
Few were happier than Flagstaff Hill Cafe owner Tuan Tran, originally from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
“We were very surprised and excited when people from the Army started coming to Bowen,” Tran said Thursday. “It’s been so good for business, and we really appreciate it.”
The Army began renting the cafe’s spacious backroom as an improvised meeting space for media engagements and special visitors from the 13-country coalition participating in Talisman Sabre, McCully said.
Beyond pumping dollars into the local economy, troops in town for Talisman Sabre joined the local Merinda State School’s 125th birthday celebration during a school fair July 22, and helped with a car show, concession stands and other activities, McCully said.
At Flagstaff Hill Cafe, the influx of so many new patrons was a pleasant surprise.
“It was unexpected, but everyone has been so friendly,” Tran said.
