Two boys in north Queensland have had their birthday wishes come true thanks to a police officer who travelled on a rescue boat to deliver presents after they were cut off from town in Charters Towers.
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Cousins Nait Jonsson, 7, and Nathan Liddell, 11, were trapped when the Hann River flooded their road earlier this month, knew they would miss a chance to celebrate their birthdays, which were days apart.
Mother of the seven-year-old, Heather Jonsson said she saw the Hann River block Gregory Development Road on February 3, with vehicles arriving in the early hours and having no way to cross.
"We noticed the river went from 0.6 metres to 1.2 meters within two hours," she said.
"By Tuesday, more cars arrived after working their way down from Greenvale, waiting on the Clark River and creeks until it is safe to cross.
"The Lolworth Creek now had a massive flow as well."
Ms Jonsson said she was concerned for the travellers and tourists trapped on their side of the river and worrying about supplies.
"We refilled one traveller’s 20 litres of water container from our rainwater tank," she said.
"They had one day's food supply left...we would have fed them but we were also cut off too and were being cautious of our supplies because we didn't know how long we would be stuck for."
Ms Jonsson said she called council and Charters Towers police had called her within minutes.
"I helped the police this side with what they needed and assured everyone that the authorities knew they were here," she said.
"All other travellers had only one to three days food and supplies from spending days here."
Ms Jonsson said knowing a boat was coming, she had asked Sergeant Tony Hosie if he could also bring two birthday gifts she had ordered from the local toy store to have something for the boys.
But Charters Towers police went above and beyond.
On February 7, Sergeant Hosie surprised both birthday boys by presenting the boys with presents they would never forget.
Sergeant Hosie told other staff members at Charters Towers Police Station about the isolated family, who had their cousins visiting for what was supposed to be one weekend, decided to buy and wrap presents for the boys.
He then crossed the Hann River while re-supplying homes and tourists with SES crews before meeting the boys and presenting them with Lego boats.
"We greeted them and I told them that I heard they were both having a birthday coming up and gave them their presents," he said.
"The boys were in good spirits.
"The kids were really happy, they got into them then and there, and it put a smile on the parents’ faces."
Sergeant Hosie said he and staff wanted to do something positive at a time where everyone was struggling.
"At first, the boys didn't know how to react but they couldn't wipe the smiles off their faces," he said.
"The fact that they were all isolated and the boys weren’t going to get an opportunity to get together with their mates, have any presents and weren’t able to get into town or go anywhere.
"It was just one of those moments during the floods that brings a smile to your face."
Sergeant Hosie said the station had the resources to receive calls for help during and after the weather event.
"All officers stepped up to the mark and were more concerned about trying to get stuff done for the community before the re-supply and carrying on business as usual," he said.
"We picked up orders for two properties and also had four vehicles with nine tourists stranded on the other side that we tended to.
"We were re-supplying those with food and also evacuating some of the people."
Ms Johnson said the boys were amazed to see a police officer in person but to receive gifts was the cherry on top of a bad situation.
