Priorities

Emergency crews restocking flood affected properties in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales have made a special beer delivery to an isolated pub ahead of tonight's rugby league State of Origin game.

Floodwaters are receding but hundreds of people are still isolated around the township of Hinton. SES Spokesman Phil Campbell says they are being re-supplied, and today there was a special beer run.

"When we had some room in the boat we could take a few kegs of beer across to the Hinton pub, because of course State of Origin is on tonight, and it's important that we let communities function as normally as possible."

Meanwhile the St Vincent de Paul Society says it has been inundated by people wanting to help those affected by the floods. The society is working with other voluntary agencies to provide essential material items for people who have lost their possessions in the disaster.

Society CEO John Picot says financial donations are needed more than material goods.

"Our concern at the moment is that we're not able to logistically manage the donation of material goods, blankets and clothes, that's not what we need at the moment," he said. "Most of the requests we're getting from people are for food and that's a consequence of people who're returning to their homes or people who've been operating without power for a number of days."