While many were locked down, they looked to entertain themselves inside their homes and the sport of billiards rose up.
Once a pool hall operator, and always a pool shark, he started working with an inundated Melbourne mate who sold pool tables, to help him from sinking under the workload.
Mr Wakefield learned the art of reclothing tables; replacing the felt, rubbers and pockets to restore them to their former glory.
When he made a tree change to the Goulburn Valley after the pandemic, he returned to work in the printing industry, but continued reclothing tables on the side to answer the demand in his niche field regionally.
That demand kept growing to a point it has now become his main game.
Together with his wife, Tania Ahmet, also a pro player, he has opened a new business in Shepparton named BTJ Billiards.
Now in the business of buying and selling new and used pool tables and accessories, hosting pool competitions, facilitating coaching for kids and adults and providing table relocation services, they continue to also recloth tables locally and across the state.
While the new venue for operations is not open to the public, keen pool players are invited to join the regular competitions held at the Wanganui Rd location or to make appointments if they wish to buy goods.
For more information about coaching, competitions or sales and services, visit the BTJ Billiards Facebook page or pooltablereclothing.com.au
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