Nearly $60m private donation for Central Australian footy program a 'jackpot' for community

A local football program in Central Australia has received a whopping $57 million private donation from Queensland construction magnates.

While federal and local governments support social programs right across the Northern Territory, this is believed to be one of the largest private donations to a local program in the region in recent years.

The Redtails Pinktails Right Tracks Program offers mentoring for young people and has opened a pathway for talented athletes to play professionally in the Northern Territory and South Australian football leagues.

The Right Tracks program aims to support young people and talented athletes to play professionally. (Supplied: AFL NT)

Civil construction company Q H & M Birt founders Quentin and Kylie Birt have donated the large sum to the football program's newly formed foundation.

QBirt owns Australia's largest privately owned scraper fleet and, according to its website, has completed $3 billion worth of contracts in the past decade.

Club president and organiser of the Right Tracks program Rob Clarke said it was a "jackpot" donation for the community, which will continue the program's work and help improve the lives of local young people.

"It's really that simple — it's giving young people purpose and it's a space where everyone is involved," he said.

Rob Clarke says the donation will have a big impact on the Redtails Pinktails program. (ABC News: Hamish Harty)

Mr Clarke said his organisation had sat down with "both political flavours", calling for support.

"We actually presented to both sides — if you're not going to give us genuine support … if there's people you know in circles … can you at least tell them about us," he said.

Mr Clark said NT Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price had contacted him to say the Birts had approached her, asking how they could "contribute meaningfully" to Central Australia.

The couple then travelled to Alice Springs for three days to speak to Mr Clarke and his team about the Redtails Pinktails program.

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price says she's observed the "wonderful work" of the Redtails Pinktails over the years. (Supplied: Alice Springs Town Council)

Speaking at Thursday's announcement, Senator Nampijinpa Price said she had then supported the program to become a foundation, to which the Birts made their multi-million-dollar donation.

"I have seen the work over the many years of the Redtails Pinktails program, and it's wonderful work," she said.

" I know the impact this will have for our community and the young people who have struggled for so long. "

Mr Clarke said they hoped to use the funds to build a "home" for the Redtails Pinktails, and to broaden their Right Tracks program to include more sporting codes.

He said they were eyeing off Traeger Park in Alice Springs as a potential site for the facility, which they hoped would also provide accommodation for travelling sporting teams and schools.

Traeger Park Oval has been suggested as a possible site for a new facility for the Redtails Pinktails. (ABC News: Xavier Martin)

Mr Clarke said he had received letters of support for the proposed facility from the local council and from "most sports" in town.

He hoped the program would "link together" other local services and schools, eventually engaging up to 4,000 young people.

"There's just people everywhere doing things that also don't get the support they need," he said.

"We want to partner with … any organisation that has the same mindset, who wants to achieve great things for our region."

Mayor Matt Paterson says the donation will have a positive impact on the Alice Springs community. (ABC Alice Springs: Lee Robinson)

Alice Springs mayor Matt Paterson said the donation was "the biggest investment [he] can remember" and "the start of the good stories" about the region.

"We will change people's lives now in Alice Springs," he said.

"Whether it is people going away to get drafted, but also at a human level … people have now got driver's licenses, there's social outcomes, there's health outcomes.

"That's why we're all here."

In a statement, AFL Northern Territory said it "welcomes any investment that supports the Central Australian community and [commends] those that have brought this into fruition".

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