All seven children of a kind-hearted Australian couple who stunned the nation by donating a staggering $40million to Neale Daniher’s FightMND charity work for a living, despite the family’s enormous fortune.
Queenslanders Quinten and Kylie Birt left the crowd stunned at Monday’s Big Freeze charity match when they pledged the extraordinary sum to help support of the charity co-founded by the late AFL great.
The annual event, held ahead of the King’s Birthday clash between Collingwood and Melbourne, saw thousands of fans decked out in the iconic blue beanies as a series of major donations were announced.
Mr Birt, 85, is the founder of QH&M Birt, home to Australia’s largest civil earthmoving fleet and the biggest scraper fleet in the Southern Hemisphere.
The business was founded in 1973 after Mr Birt landed a $10,000 contract to build a car park at Moorooka, in Brisbane’s south, and started out with little more than a station wagon, a shovel and a wheelbarrow.
Yet despite building a multimillion-dollar empire, the Birts have remained firmly grounded and have resisted any temptation to hand their children an easy ride.
Far from producing a generation of nepo babies, the fiercely private couple have instilled old-fashioned values in their seven children, all of whom have forged careers of their own.
Queenslanders Quinten and Kylie Birt left the crowd stunned at Monday’s Big Freeze charity match when they pledged the extraordinary sum in support of FightMND
Far from producing a generation of nepo babies, the fiercely private couple have instilled old-fashioned values in their seven children
All of the Birts children have forged careers of thwie own including their youngest Reece (Pictured) who is a chef
Among them are a nurse, a chef and a former sports journalist turned account manager, while another son followed his father into the earthmoving industry.
But rather than sitting in a boardroom, he spends his days on the tools alongside other workers.
The couple’s proud daughter Brooke Birt told Daily Mail that financial handouts wouldn’t come close to what their parents had actually given them.
‘They’ve always instilled in us children to work for what we want. To earn our own money and have our own dreams.
‘And look, if one of us wanted to learn the ropes of the business they would have supported that too, but we would be working in the mines and learning it from the ground up.’
Brooke first heard about her parents’ jaw-dropping donation when a friend sent her a social media post.
‘I was surprised at the huge amount of money, no one expects that much,’ she said.
‘But I’m not surprised they did it because they do just want to give back and use what they have done for a living for good.’
Brooke first heard about her parents’ jaw dropping donation when a friend sent her a social media post
‘They are very focused on giving back to the community and I’m very very proud.
‘I just sat and looked at the comments online and it made me teary because of what they have both built. They are inspirations.’
On Monday it was revealed that the couple had originally planned to donate $10million to FightMND.
But after attending the Big Freeze event, the construction magnates were so inspired they increased their contribution to an astonishing $40million.
Brooke says that would be down to her dad, who can be very determined once he sets his mind to something.
‘Its usually dad, he is not impulsive and very analytical, but when he feels like something is right there’s no holding him back,’ she said.
‘He’s a danger in an auction, you have to watch that man with a paddle!’
Daily Mail can also reveal it is far from the first extraordinary act of generosity from the family.
After attending the Big Freeze event, the construction magnates were so inspired they increased their contribution to an astonishing $40million
In 2025, a local football program in Central Australia received a whopping $57million private donation from the construction magnates.
The Redtails Pinktails Right Tracks Program offers mentoring for young people and has opened pathways for talented athletes to play professionally in the Northern Territory and South Australian football leagues.
While federal and local governments support social programs across the Northern Territory, it is believed to be one of the largest private donations to a community program in the region in recent years.
The Birts reached out to NT Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to ask how they could ‘contribute meaningfully’ to Central Australia.
The couple then travelled to Alice Springs for three days to learn more about the Redtails Pinktails program.
Senator Price fought back tears while announcing the multi-million-dollar donation.
‘I have had an interest in Aboriginal situations for 20 or 30 years and probably not known enough about it, then I saw some of your work and Australia is terribly lacking in conviction politicians,’ Mr Birt told Senator Nampijinpa Price at the time.
‘It’s sort of that simple.’
The couple then travelled to Alice Springs for three days to learn more about the Redtails Pinktails program
When asked if his wife was on board, he then joked that she shared the same values and perhaps had even grander ambitions.
‘Kylie wanted to give quite a bit more,’ he smiled. ‘We do agree, no thanks required.’
Mr Birt has also personally travelled to Uganda to support the School for Life initiative, which builds schools and healthcare solutions in rural communities, with QH&M Birt becoming a major supporter of the cause.
When asked why he gives back with such generosity, Mr Birt explained how much the organisation had given him in return.
‘I’ve really connected with the Ugandan community. My experiences with them have been incredible.
‘I’m getting more back from them than I’m giving. Learning and education are the most important things in the world and I want to support that wherever I can.’
While many high-profile Australians have made headlines for their charitable donations, the Birts have largely flown under the radar until now.
Brooke said the sudden attention surrounding her parents’ generosity is something they are still adjusting to.
Despite the couples considerable wealth life behind closed doors is far more ordinary than many people might imagine
But despite the family’s considerable wealth, she insists life behind closed doors is far more ordinary than many people might imagine.
‘Of course we have had a very privileged upbringing and we went to a private school, but there are no private chefs, I’m usually the one doing the cooking,’ she laughed.
‘Christmas is pretty normal too, we don’t all get a Porsche… although that would be nice,’ she joked.
She also added that despite his age her father still working and just enjoys the simple things in life, including mowing the lawn and tackling a good puzzle.
‘I gave him a voucher one year for picking up sticks on the lawn, which he has to do before he mows it,’ she said. ‘And he said it was he best gift I ever got for him.’
