LAST week a large banner appeared alongside Myall Way, Tea Gardens, declaring “I love you Rebecca”. This mystery is perhaps a prequel to Valentine’s Day when many people go to some lengths to be romantic. While the 14 February is regarded by some people as being overly commercial, the day is in fact an old celebration, traceable back to Roman Saints, then later immortalised as a day of a romance by English writer Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century, and celebrated since with fine dining in the French royal courts.

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NOTA asked locals around Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest how they were celebrating love and romance. First up was Rebekah Hinitt from the Myall River Bakery Café who is taking her boyfriend, Bowen, to the Cessnock Aussie Nightmarkets for a romantic dinner.

“Well we are actually going with the whole family,” she added with a smile.

“Valentines is a good excuse to spend some money”, she stated.

Next were Matt and Emma who were visiting Hawks Nest, both enjoying an early valentines’ weekend before Emma starts Air Force basic training at Wagga next week.

“We love the water views,” they told News Of The Area.

“Especially with hot chips in the rain.”

Next was local resident, Stephen MacMahon, who has been happily married for 43 years. He confided with a smile, “I am going to give my beautiful wife Janice a big kiss. Then she will no doubt ask me what I have done wrong.”

Finally, local post office managers, Russell and Monica shared a kiss but revealed no tales about local love letters. “We strictly stick to accidental dates,” they both told News Of The Area.

“Much more romantic than planned ones.”

Happy Valentines week and NOTA would like to know the story behind that mystery banner.

By Sandra Murray