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Ramsbottom's Crocodile Dundee returns
1:57pm Tuesday 22nd April 2008
RAMSBOTTOM'S answer to Crocodile Dundee is back in town - and he has brought his animals with him.
Joe McQuaid, known as Crocodile Joe, moved to Queensland, Australia, two years ago to fulfil his dream of educating people about crocodiles.
The 39-year-old father-of-two, of St Edmund Hall Close, Ramsbottom, toured shopping malls, schools, hospitals and children's parties with a show designed to increase awareness of crocodile conservation.
Now Joe, who ran the Apollo gym in Ramsbottom for 10 years, is going into business here in the UK with the same unique show.
He has brought back four stuffed crocodiles and he wants to take them - and his large collection of live snakes, reptiles and insects - on the road to children's parties and shopping centres.
"It's a unique show," Joe said. "This is the only chance most people will get to come so close to a crocodile.
"In nature, if it were a live croc, it would be the last thing you would see.
"I've also got live snakes and other reptiles - the house is like a zoo. Children have the chance to touch them and learn how they live."
But as well as providing excitement and entertainment, Joe has a serious environmental message to spread.
One of his crocodiles - a huge 14-foot specimen - died from eating plastic bags.
Joe hopes to use the dead crocodile to illustrate concerns about plastic bags and to educate children about the impact our lifestyle has on nature.
Joe said: "They opened his stomach and it was full of plastic.
"They were going to cut him up and sell him but I said I was going to take the croc back to the UK to show people what had happened.
"The same thing is happening to whales, dolphins and turtles.
"I support these initiatives designed to cut down on plastic bags."
Joe, whose 14-year-old son Joe Junior attends Woodhey High School, was fascinated by crocodiles as a youngster.
His passion only increased in adult life after he went to Australia for a holiday He began making annual trips down under' to learn about the giant reptiles.
Anyone interested in booking Crocodile Joe can call him on 0798 938 2606 or visit his website www.crocodilejoes.com
Your Say YourTelegraph
Zapatista, Rossendale says...
12:14pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Pop Tastic, Rossendale says...
4:48pm Thu 24 Apr 08
Steve, Ramsbottom says...
4:24pm Thu 24 Apr 08
You say that Ramsbottom isn't in Rossendale - you are wrong.
You say Ramsbottom is not in Rossendale Borough.
You are right here but you fail to state that Rossendale Borough is an artifical borough created in 1974 that bares no relation to reality.
For example Ramsbottom has always had cultural and historic links with the other valley towns- Whitworth for example has not.
Ramsbottom historically was also part of the Rossendale division for education and social services.
It is also treated as a Rossendale Valley town by the local press and media.
It has a 01706 telephone code along with the other valley towns and the heart of Ramsbottom town cenre was in the ancient Forest of Rossendale.
Until 1983 Ramsbottom had a Rossendale M.P. who held regular surgeries in the town.
Many Ramsbottom residents in the past were refered to Rossendale General Hospital for treatment.
When each town in the valley had its own sports council, Ramsbottom Sports Council sent representatives to monthly meetings of Rossendale Sports Council held at Rawtenstall town Hall.
You may not be aware but there used to be a Rossendale competition called the "Carter Trophy".
Each town in the geographical area of Rossendale(Bacup, Haslingden, Ramsbottom, and Rawtenstall) used to enter a team (darts, swimming, football)
etc.
The winner would then receive the Trophy for a year.
Rambles Round Rossendale - a book produced by Rossendale Groundwork has several chapters in it about Ramsbottom.
On the Cricket front Ramsbottom enters the Rossendale Floodlit cricket competion along with Bacup, Haslingden and Rawtenstall.
We play cricket in the Lancashire League, indeed we are one of the founder members.
Rossendale Radio, a community radio station recently given a broadcasting licence for Rossendale defines the area as Bacup, Haslingden, Ramsbottom, Rawtenstall, Whitworth and sorrounding villages.
So whenever the Lancashire telegraph refers to Ramsbottom as part of Rossendale please stop saying it isnt.
For you know nothing about the area - apparently.
Adamsky, says...
2:29pm Wed 23 Apr 08
Milan Traveller wrote:Don't start this conversation again! From what I remember of this argument last time round, rhey may be different council boroughs now but traditionally Rammy was always in Rossendale.
If he's from Ramsbottom then he's not Rossendale's answer to Crocodile Dundee, seeing as though they're different boroughs and all that...
Milan Traveller, Milan says...
9:06am Wed 23 Apr 08
removals R me, my front room says...
5:24pm Tue 22 Apr 08
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OPEN WIDE: Crocodile expert Joe McQuaid
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Steve, Ramsbottom says...
1:38pm Sat 3 May 08
Cumbria and Greater Manchester will disappear anyway.You say you want reality.Look at the town centres of Bacup,Haslingden,Raw
tenstall,and Ramsbottom,they are all very similar,all stone built with very similar architecture.We live and breathe the valley in Ramsbottom!Its in our bones and our heritage.