When a booming suburb just a few minutes' drive from one of the biggest regional cities in New South Wales became trapped by floodwaters, instead of panicking its residents threw a street party.
Gillieston Heights in Maitland coined the nickname "Gillieston Island" in 2015 when it became isolated by floodwaters.
Rising floodwaters isolated the community again last Wednesday and it was unclear when waters would recede enough for people to leave by road.
The only way in and out is by boat, which is how resident Eugene Koen travelled to the "mainland" on Saturday to get supplies for his family.
What he saw when he returned caught him off guard.
Impromptu 'show and shine' planned overnight
The impromptu "show and shine" led to locals cars and bikes being lined up near the community centre, where a free barbecue was also cooking.
"It just amazed me during this time where we are pretty much isolated from the rest of the world ... this community just came together and just had a really, really good time," Eugene Koen said.
One of the residents behind the event, Luke Johnstone, pulled it together in less than 24 hours.
"I am a car enthusiast so I thought, 'oh well, organise a car show, bike show, see what we can get happening while the community barbecue is going on'," he said.
Several local businesses donated food and gift cards for the street party.
The Australian National Street Machine Association covered the insurance needs for the event to go ahead.
"I honestly thought maybe we could get 20 or 30 people that are like me, love cars and stuff, that would come down and enjoy the cars and have a look around and enjoy the barbecue," Mr Johnstone said.
"But once I got down there at 10 [am] there were already 200 or so people there," he said.
"We couldn’t even park [all the cars] in the area."
He said the level of community spirit in the suburb was undeniably strong.
"It is honestly amazing; I have lived in plenty of places down the Central Coast and everywhere else, but I have never been in a community that is this helpful."
'Gillonats' set to become annual event
The show and shine had been nicknamed the Gillonats, inspired by the Summernats car festival in Canberra, and it was set to be held again next year.
"I have had a lot of people ask me if I can hold it again," he said.
"I am over the moon, like, I still can’t get the smile off my face," he said.
Aerial photos taken by Eugene Koen on the day show the scale of what was happening outside the happy weekend gathering.
"It was pretty surreal to actually see from the aerial shot how much water there is."
It was a much-needed distraction from the déjà vu the community was and still is experiencing.
"I have never seen so much water in my life and causing so much damage to houses, properties," he said.
