Despite the cooler temperatures, plenty of people gathered at the front of Cowra Hospital for their first ever NAIDOC Week celebrations.
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The event featured a smoking ceremony, a sausage sizzle, three dances focused on cleansing, a Wiradjuri welcome and the landscape and neighbouring countries, as well as a Welcome to Country by Warren Williams and Aunty Frances Kennedy.
Mr Williams said Cowra Hospital hosting NAIDOC Week celebrations may help close the gap in terms of Indigenous health and life expectancy.
"It means a lot to me and the hospital today, it's really touching for me to get my community at hospital at the right time," he said.
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"It's obviously not when they are sick they turn up, I want them to come before that and live a bit longer for the next generation."
Cowra Health Service Manager, Pauline Rowston, thanked everybody for joining in the celebrations.
"On behalf of Cowra Health Service, I would really like to thank Warren for organising the day and thank the dancers for coming," she said.
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"We really appreciate the work you've done today, I don't think we've ever had a smoking ceremony at Cowra Hospital so I am truly grateful."
