Two months ago, floodwater rapidly surrounded Ann Biasol's home and she feared she would lose her three beloved horses.
She was also at risk.
Life is yet to return to normal- Ms Biasol hasn't yet moved back into her flood-ravaged home — but her horses are alive and thriving and she feels very lucky.
She says she owes her animals' survival to locals, who came to her rescue after she received word the State Emergency Service couldn't reach her property, south of Crescent Head on the New South Wales Mid North Coast.
Phillip Aitkin launched a boat, and with the help of another local horseman Leon Gray, the animals were walked and swum to higher ground.
Ms Biasol said it was an experience she wouldn't forget.
"There were a lot of challenges," she said.
"One more day and my horses would have drowned, so I was extremely lucky."
Road to recovery
Ms Biasol's horses suffered severe skin injuries due to prolonged exposure to the floodwater, but after intensive daily treatment and medication they are back in good health.
"They had a lot of skin sloughing on their bodies. These horses were in the water for five days and right up to the waist and higher," she said.
"Basically the treatment the vet put into play was like a burns victim treatment."
It's been nine weeks and Ms Biasol is waiting for running water to be restored before she moves back into her home.
She said the lack of water meant a lot of the clean-up was still on hold.
"So at the moment I am going through photo albums and things which were just flooded."
Hopes of reducing livestock losses in future floods
Ms Biasol's horses are at a temporary home on Mr Aitkin's nearby property on higher ground.
Mr Aitkin and Ms Biasol plan to create a livestock evacuation centre there, for future emergencies.
"I rang so many people to try and find a place for the horses [during the flood] and it was almost impossible," she said.
Mr Aitkin said many animals died during the March floods and he hoped the evacuation centre would help reduce livestock losses in the future.
"It's probably going to be about a 12-month turnaround at least. We need fencing, stables and to redo the grass into some decent feed for horses and cattle," he said.
'I'm relying on a neighbour'
Mr Aitkin has also helped other flood-affected locals, including 70-year-old Harold Markham, who lives along a dirt road south of Crescent Head.
Mr Aitkin has delivered hay, donated by the Uniting Church, to Mr Markham's still water-logged property.
"The first few days when the floods were on, blokes came in canoes and brought us food.
"They came over the top of the fences, and there's been a couple of deliveries since then.
"I have a mobile cabin which went under water and I am staying in a caravan at the moment and it's alright in the caravan."
Mr Markham and his brother also lost their trucks and cars in the flood and remain without transport.
He said the flood was the latest in a string of personal challenges.
"I had a stroke the Christmas before last, and a heart attack, so this is on top of it," he said.
'This is my home'
A little further down the road, help has also been extended to Port Macquarie's North Shore community.
Residents there were isolated for days during floods, with no way of crossing the Hastings River.
North Shore resident Ursula Butlin is continuing to clean up her property.
She said mould was a big issue.
"Because if I stay in the hotel who going to pay for it?
"It's so hard because sometimes it's so painful, your throat is always painful."
Despite the challenges, Ms Butlin said she had no plans to move.
"My kids were born here and grew up here so this is my home."
