The Red Head Villages Association was incorporated on March 10, 2008, when the memberships of the Bendalong District Environmental Association (BDEA) and Manyana and Districts Citizens’ Association (MDCA) voted to join forces and incorporate as a new Community Consultative Body.
While the MDCA was the older of the two bodies and was recognised by Shoalhaven City Council as the principal community organisation, the BDEA was playing an increasingly important role on issues like the gazetting of Conjola National Park, and the controversial Kylor and Malbec (later Manyana Beach Estate) developments.
It was agreed the two groups would achieve more by working together, and both groups de-registered and reformed as the RHVA.
Red Head Villages Association was the popular choice of name of the new Association.
At the time there was widespread community concern about rezoning and inappropriate development in the five villages. It was agreed that working together would give the villages a stronger voice when lobbying and negotiating with all levels of government on these and other important issues.
The first RHVA committee was led by Peter Hudson, who went on to serve as President for ten years.
These days, the RHVA continues to play an important role in life across the five villages representing the concerns of residents, organising and hosting community events and delivering important infrastructure and projects.
Some of our key achievements over the years have included:
- Upgrades to Yulunga Hall to make it a communications and disaster-response hub in times of bushfires and other emergencies. This included the installation of solar panels and a defibrillator.
- Upgrades to Berringer Boat ramp
- Construction of community pathways connecting Manyana and Bendalong and Berringer Lake and Manyana
- Construction of a skate ramp and upgrades to the children’s playground
- Organising and hosting the inaugural Southerly Change Festival
- Organising and hosting a Meet-the-Candidates forums during the 2023 NSW State Election campaign