This year’s theme was ‘Because Of Her We Can’.

Wiradjuri Elder and event organiser Aunty Helen Riley said the day was all about family and their Indigenous culture.

“It's more of a celebration for our people, the young and especially the old who have fought for everything we have today,” she said.

She said NAIDOC Week was usually held in July but it was far too cold to hold any events during the winter.

“We’re celebrating our NAIDOC in the warmer weather down here on Wiradjuri country and it’s beautiful,” she said.

The event has been running since 2005, but this was only the third year it had been held at the Port Macquarie Homestead.

Aunty Helen said it had grown and they needed a bigger space to accommodate everyone. She said there was no better place to have it than out in the bush in the Capertee National Park.

“It might be a long drive out here, but it’s on country and the scenery is beautiful. It’s worth it,” she said.

According to Helen Riley, the point of holding the event on Wiradjuri country was to show the importance of culture and its connection to the land.

“It’s all about celebrating our culture,” she said.

Celebrations commenced at 10am with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony by the Yalmambirra Boogijoon dance group.

There were also a range of artistic activities including roping and weaving, painting and a Wiradjuri language workshop.

The Sydney Taronga Zoo Mobile also made an appearance with a reptile show and sing along by Aboriginal country singer Col Hardy.

Zookeeper Ryan Dale said the zoo mobile had been coming to Lithgow NAIDOC celebrations for over five years.

“It’s a privilege for the Taronga Zoo Mobile to be here and connecting wildlife to the indigenous culture,” he said.

People traveled from as far as Sydney, Canberra, Gilgandra, Lithgow, Kandos and Rylstone to attend the day and evening celebrations.

Wiradjuri man Ralph Nadem traveled from Gilgandra to attend Lithgow’s celebration.

“I’ve been coming here for four years, there's a great sense of community and it gets bigger and better every year,” he said.

He also said everyone came together to have fun and feel the presence of those who have passed in the culture.

Event coordinator and dancer Sharon Riley said she was a proud Wiradjuri woman.

“I love teaching people about my culture, especially out here on our country and it’s importance,” she said.

Festivities carried into the night with live music. 

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