Roma’s Easter in the Country was established in 1976 by Wattles Football Club of Roma. Mr Noel Miller, who was President of the Wattles Rugby League Club, presented the idea of a Country and Western Festival for raising funds to build a clubhouse for the association.
After a Sunday afternoon footy match, and a session at the Royal Hotel in Roma, Mr Miller stood on a stool and announced to the bar the the Festival would commence the following Easter in 1977.
The Festival took the form of Country & Western music and rodeo for many years, with the Wattles club relinquishing the management when the music component became too expensive.
Some years later the Cities Football Club took up the reins, and the management of the Festival moved to a community organisation.
Mr Miller has since established a reputation as a renowned Queensland artist.