There is only one way in and out of Gillieston Heights.
And until Thursday you could not leave on your own in a car.
The only way out was by boat, earning the suburb the nickname Gillieston's Island.
Yet, the suburb was only a few minutes' drive from nearby Maitland, a major regional city in the New South Wales Hunter region.
But about 6,000 residents were isolated for nine days when floodwaters cut off both access roads.
Locals were quick to act, sharing food and checking in on vulnerable neighbours.
"Food was our main priority," Community Hub volunteer Katie Ferguson said.
She said the number of people and businesses who donated food and money was overwhelming.
"I cried and cried," she said.
But, Ms Ferguson said disaster relief payments should be extended to cut-off communities.
Suffering but thinking of others
Registered nurse and community volunteer Jo Colfax said some people had done it quite tough.
"It's been really hard to be here in the hub and just seeing the families, the elderly wander in and just say, 'We are struggling'," she said.
Yet, Ms Colfax said residents' hearts went out to other communities like Millers Forest and Broke, and people affected by floodwaters on the other side of Maitland.
Bird's eye view of devastation
For Eugene Koen, the scale of the flooding took on a whole new meaning when he put his drone in the air.
"It was really surreal to actually see the amount of water that has come through our valley so quickly," he said.
"It gave it a whole new perspective of what is actually happening, which as well, makes it even more amazing to see how the community is having fun despite what is happening around us."
The community had thrown two events, an impromptu car and bike show and markets.
"Residents had come together, checked on their neighbours, helped ferry food and supplies across the water and new friendships had been formed," Mr Koen said.
His daughter Lacey said it was a school holiday she would never forget.
Infrastructure 'not up to scratch'
Maitland's Mayor Phillip Penfold said he understood why residents were concerned after a similar flooding event in 2015.
"It is sad to see that they had a repeat of that issue that existed seven years ago," Mr Penfold said.
"The state government is building a new road, a higher road, at Testers Hollow on the Cessnock side of things but unfortunately it appears that may be too low.
"There's concern for the people of Gillieston and I understand why they have that concern."
Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison said the state government needed to do more to plan for flooding in the area.
"There's a lack of planning, there's a lack of understanding by the state government that this is an area where this shouldn't happen," she said.
Despite everything, residents said there was an enduring sense of hope and mateship in the growing suburb.
"It's been really amazing just to see around us all the water and we can't go out but yes, just all out of the blue we had events popping up," Mr Koen said.
