Otto Sames (1934-2021), John Entwistle (1926-2021), and Max Noske (1935-2021)
Honouring the Passing of Three ICONIC Hahndorf Locals
(Extracted from Hahndorf Village Voice – Edition 66 Winter 2011)
It is with sadness that we recognize the passing of three long standing business owners, and local residents; Otto Sames, John Entwistle (Senior) and Max Noske. At some point, as a local, you would have been served by one of these gentlemen in their respective stores. Otto Sames at Otto’s Bakery or Kaffeehaus, John Entwistle Senior at Hahndorf Pharmacy or Max Noske at Max Noske and Son Country Meats.
Each of these three men added to the charm of the town in their own individual ways and we thank these hardworking, dedicated gentlemen who added to Hahndorf’s culture and through their professions. They will be missed by many in the community and we send our deepest condolences to their families.
Otto Sames - Aged 86 (30/04/1934—19/03/2021)
Born and raised in Germany, Otto relocated to Australia in 1954 aged 19 and established Otto’s Bakery in the Main Street in 1978. As a qualified baker, Otto was determined that his products were of the highest quality. As a direct result of his hard work and ambition Otto’s Bakery became a successful destination in itself, with travelling motorists, tourists and local residents flocking to the shop as they passed through Main Street, Princes Highway back then.
Otto was involved in the Hahndorf community in various ways including the Hahndorf traders and many other community groups. Otto’s passion for Hahndorf and its history, saw him crowned Hahndorf’s Burgermeister (town master) in the early 1980’s– a role he humbly embraced. Wanting to give back, in 1982 Otto donated the Captain Hahn memorial bust that sits in the Hahndorf Pioneer Memorial Gardens still to this day.
John Entwistle (snr) - Aged 95 (26/12/1926 - 02/04/2021)
John, a long-standing Hahndorf resident, owned and ran the Hahndorf Pharmacy in the Main Street for more than 35 years, only retiring as a pharmacist aged 70.
John was a familiar face in and around town and at the Hahndorf Lions Club where John served as a Lion for 50 years and was instrumental in the success of many local community projects. John was awarded life membership and a Melvin Jones Fellowship award, both for outstanding community service. PDG Robert Dewell, added ‘John was an ornament to the Hahndorf township and the people thereof’.
Early in his career, John worked in Alice Springs and saw a need to improve the way people on remote outback stations received help and pharmaceutical goods. Working together with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, John created the Medical Chests allowing people to have access to pharmaceutical items, which enable emergency and non-emergency treatment to be given where there was no access to a hospital or clinic. These medical chests are still widely used today. A great achievement and legacy. Simply put, John worked behind the scenes to help other organisations and brought many ideas and visions with him.
Max Noske - Aged 85 (27/11/1935 – 13/04/2021)
Max’s family history links back to the migration of his grandfather from Prussia in 1847. Life as a butcher was not unexpected for Max, a fourth-generation butcher, with his grandfather, father, uncle and three brothers all in the trade.
When Max’s brother Herb opened a shop, Max was alongside him as his apprentice. The first shop was located at 37 Main Street, Hahndorf and in 1968, Max purchased a farm in Hahndorf and opened his shop at 78c Main Street. Besides excelling in his trade for 70 years, Max also became well skilled in associating with his many customers in the shop and while doing home rounds in the shop’s butcher’s delivery van.
Throughout the years, Max has remained a loyal contributor to the Hahndorf community providing meats for local fund-raising events, as well as donating time and effort towards many community functions. A talented, generous and hardworking man, who had a wonderful sense of humour and loved the simple things in life, with his greatest love for his family, his shop, farm and pets. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
