Australian couple Quentin and Kylie Burt have donated more than A$100 million to charitable causes in the past two years, including a recent A$40 million contribution to FightMND.
Although they have become some of Australia’s largest private donors, the Brisbane-based couple insist they are not trying to build a reputation as philanthropists. Quentin Birt, who made his fortune through civil construction company QH & M Birt, says the donations are simply to support people and causes that can make a real difference.
Why did the Australian couple donate more than $100 million?
The couple recently donated A$40 million to FightMND during the Big Freeze event in Melbourne.
The charity was co-founded by former AFL player and coach Neale Daniher, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2013.MND is a progressive neurological condition that destroys nerve cells responsible for muscle control. There is currently no cure for this disease, making research funding essential to develop treatments and improve patient care.Burt said he was inspired to support FightMND after reading Daniher’s book and learning more about the challenges patients and their families face.
His decision was also influenced by personal experiences, including the loss of a staff member shortly after being diagnosed with DS, and a close friend who suffered from a similar degenerative disease.The FightMND contribution is just one part of the couple’s recent charitable efforts. Reports indicate that Quentin and Kylie Burt have donated more than A$100 million over the past two years.Among their largest contributions was a A$57 million donation to the Redtails Pinktails Right Tracks programme, an initiative focused on creating sporting, educational and employment opportunities for young people, especially Indigenous Australians in remote communities.Their giving extends to medical research, youth development and education, suggesting a focus on projects that can create long-term social benefits rather than short-term propaganda.
From a dairy farm to a wealth builder
Quentin Burt’s story is one of important social mobility. He grew up on a dairy farm north of Gympie in Queensland, and described his family conditions as poor during his childhood.After becoming the first child in his area to attend high school, he began his career as an apprentice railway engineer.
In 1973, he launched QH&M Birt with modest resources and secured his first contract to build a car park for Australia Post in Brisbane.Over the following decades, the company grew to become one of Australia’s largest civil construction fleet operators and completed multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects. This success ultimately provided the resources behind the couple’s charitable giving.
Why do they refuse to name the philanthropist?
Despite their donations, the Burt family does not consider themselves philanthropists.
Quentin Burt said that generosity should not be judged by the size of the donation.He compared his contributions to those of a child saving a small amount of money for charity, saying both are examples of people giving what they can. In his view, the willingness to help is more important than the dollar amount associated with the donation.The couple also says they are not actively looking for causes to support. Instead, they are attracted to individuals and organizations with a clear vision and a proven commitment to solving problems.
Focus on impact, not recognition
One of the most striking aspects of the Peretz’s approach is their preference to stay out of the spotlight. Quentin Birt revealed that FightMND’s donation was originally intended to remain anonymous before details were made public.For the couple, the real credit goes to the researchers, educators and community leaders who work directly on these issues. Their role, they say, is simply to provide support where it can help achieve meaningful results.