Brian Packer is the winner of the 2013 True Blue award for volunteer service to the Roma community.

Mayor Rob Loughnan presented Mr Packer with the award at the Mayoral Breakfast this morning, which is the traditional curtain-raiser for the Easter in the Country festival which starts in earnest tomorrow.

Thousands are expected in town for the festival and the Mayoral Breakfast got things off to a great start.

Brian Packer was a popular winner of the True Blue award at the breakfast.

Cr Loughnan said Mr Packer was a long-term resident who came to the Maranoa from Victoria and was a wheat farmer in the Surat area before retiring to Roma.

Brian was heavily associated with Wattles football club and a dedicated member of St Vincent de Paul.

"Brian has been involved with Easter in the Country for 15 years, especially with the goat races and is now a life member," Cr Loughnan said.

Mr Packer paid tribute to the new Easter in the Country committee and said it would have been a sad day for Roma if the festival had to fold as it looked like doing last September.

"These people have done a great job," Mr Packer said.

Over 150 people attended the Mayoral Breakfast which raises funds for the Roma Combined Churches.

CJ Gardner Homes CEO Darren Wallis (cousin of local pastor Shane Wallis) was the guest speaker and he gave a humorous account of his rise from humble upbringings in Hannaford (near Meandarra) to become CEO of a worldwide company with $250m turnover. 

Previous True Blue award winners:

1987: Lady Flo Bjelke Peterson

1988: Joe Orr

1989-1991: NOT AWARDED

1992: Don and Pat Tite

1993: Brian McGuire

1994: Keith Kimlin

1995: Geraldine Reardon

1996: Keith Blackburn

1997: Lyn Garvie

1998: Peter McKenzie and Kellie Carne

1999: Tom Lorenz

2000: Peter Flynn

2001: Western Star

2002: Noel Kerr

2003: Kev Donnelly

2004: Peg Thompson

2005: Peter Keegan

2006: Annette Mills

2007: Roma Meals on Wheels

2008: Rebecca Kupfer

2009: Alec Waldron

2010: Glenys Thompson

2011: Mark McManus

2012: 4ZR