FED: Australians to join the worldwide Valentine s Day party

AAP General News (Australia)
02-14-1999
FED: Australians to join the worldwide Valentine s Day party

SYDNEY, Feb 14 AAP - No-one knows for sure, but some historians believe February 14 became
the day of love after St Valentine cured his girlfriend's blindness only to be executed by her
father.

Little could he have known that his martyred love would develop into the global cyberspace
Mills and Boon epic that it is today.

In what is being billed as the world's biggest ever Valentine's Day party, several million
singles from Australia and around the world are expected to shun the traditional cards and red
roses this year to search for their soul mates "on line".

The non-profit organisation behind the event, American Singles, said 20 simultaneous
parties on five different continents would be connected by video linkup, and of course via
computer, for four fours from 11am (AEST) tomorrow (Valentine's Day in the United States).

But Australian organiser Malcolm Dennis said the Cybernet Cafe in Hawthorn was expecting
the rush to start today because of the time difference.

The cafe in suburban Melbourne will link Australian net surfers with prospective love
interests from France, India, Canada, the US and the West Indies.

While Sydney's party site did not eventuate because of venue problems, Sydneysiders and
other Australians can join the fun by logging into the festivities at home.

Mr Dennis said the event was the first of its kind, so it was difficult to predict the
reaction, however he was expecting a bigger crowd than usual today.

"It's that one special time each year when everyone has romance on the mind so what better
time to get in on the fun and see who's out there," Mr Dennis said.

"People can sit at a computer and chat for hours and watch the party atmosphere at other
cafes on the screens and even check out who they're talking to."

Mr Dennis said the four-year-old Cybernet Cafe was the first Internet cafe to open in the
southern hemisphere, so it was fitting the cafe was involved in such an innovation.

"I don't think this has ever been done before so it's really exciting to be able to provide
people with the latest technology," he said.

AAP cmm/gl/br

KEYWORD: VALENTINES SINGLES AUST

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