Lithgow was the first stop for the 'West route red stick' with Uncle Robert Cameron meeting elders, staff and customers at the train station on Monday, July 7.

Wiradjuri representative Sharon Riley said the Welcome to Country followed by a presentation of the message stick by Uncle Robert. There was also a morning tea and celebration cake.

Message sticks were a traditional way of passing messages between Aboriginal language groups.

Wiradjuri Elder Aunty Helen Riley said the passing through of the message stick was about getting everyone involved instead of being segregated.

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"It's about bringing people together and giving NAIDOC a voice tying in with this year's theme.

"We want all Australians to hear, acknowledge and understand the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait voice in our nation's history so we can work together and develop," she said.

Wiradjuri man Robert Cameron said he was honoured to stop over and Lithgow and said he looked forward to travelling with the message stick.

"We are off to Dubbo tomorrow [July 9] then to Orange, Bathurst, Wellington and other places throughout the week as we make our way back to Sydney," he said.

The message sticks will also travel on coaches and trains to Tamworth, Canberra, Broken Hill, Gosford, Wollongong, Parkes, Coffs Harbour, Newcastle Interchange, and Wagga Wagga train stations.

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