Maree Ratcliffe - fuel Cafe - P100 Member

Maree Ratcliffe – Fueling Community, One Cup at a Time

With a warm smile and a heart full of purpose, Maree Ratcliffe is the passionate force behind fuel Café and Solid Ground Coffee, two much-loved local businesses with community at their core. Alongside her husband John, Maree has spent nearly two decades immersed in the café industry, dedicated to serving wholesome food, ethically sourced coffee, and kindness with every interaction.

At fuel Café, Maree and her team craft fresh, nutritious grab-and-go meals, snacks, and specialty drinks—right down to their locally roasted Solid Ground Coffee. But it’s more than just food and coffee—it’s about nourishing people in every sense of the word.

“I love food and feeding people—especially those who really need it. There’s something powerful about knowing someone is eating well, even during hard times.”

This heartfelt philosophy underpins fuel Café’s ongoing support of the SunnyKids refuge, where Maree prepares home-cooked meals each week for mothers and children in crisis.

“When I went through a hard time after the birth of our first son, someone brought a meal to our door. I’ll never forget that feeling. I want to give that same comfort to others.”

The Ratcliffes’ connection to SunnyKids started over a decade ago through Chappy Dave Larkin, a local chaplain whose work inspired their now-famous Hero Blend.

“Chappy Dave is an everyday hero. When he couldn’t help a family in crisis, he’d turn to SunnyKids. That’s when we realised just how crucial the organisation is for families on the edge.”

Since then, Maree and John have become cornerstone members of the SunnyKids village, contributing over $60,000 as longtime P100 supporters.

“Every kilo of coffee we roast sends $1 directly to SunnyKids. That’s a business model we’re proud of.”

For Maree, being a P100 member is about more than financial support—it’s about belonging to a community of people who care.

“We love connecting with like-minded people at the events and supporting other local businesses who are also passionate about giving back.”

The impact of SunnyKids continues to move Maree deeply, especially as she gains more insight into the critical challenges local families face.

“It’s about perspective. We were lucky to grow up in stable households. Many kids here aren’t. If we can offer support—even just a little, but consistently—it can make all the difference.”

Maree has big dreams to expand the meal support program she leads at the refuge, knowing that the demand continues to grow. As fuel Café prepares to celebrate its 10-year anniversary in July, Maree plans to include SunnyKids in the festivities as a way of giving back to the community that has embraced them.

“We’ll be celebrating our incredible team, our loyal customers, and the journey we’ve been on—and SunnyKids is very much a part of that story.”

With Solid Ground Coffee literally built on the belief in strong, lasting foundations, and fuel Café nourishing both body and spirit, Maree and John Ratcliffe are living proof that a little compassion, served consistently, can change lives.

Join our P100 Village today