Amaze Education owner Lucy Cook married Peter Schweizer at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary with her dad Bruce Cook, OAM at side

Coast identity and former TSS headmaster's incredible wedding story on his 77th birthday. 

A GLOBAL pandemic stopped Lucy Cook from travelling to Sierra Leone to do charity work — but it’s also the reason she met and married the man of her dreams.

“One day I was in Brisbane for business and I happened to meet up with Peter (Schweizer). It was during the height of COVID restrictions and so we had a coffee but couldn’t sit down anywhere,” said Ms Cook, the owner and director of Amaze Education.

Lucy Cook and Peter Schweizer got married at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Photo credit Mitchell J Carlin Wedding Photographer

“So we started talking and then realised no restaurants were opened so we ended up at Betty’s Burgers and then just walked and talked because no touching or hand holding was allowed. “Our first date went for seven hours.”

The couple, who each have a set of identical twins and a love of running and wildlife, were married at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) on November 28, the day of Ms Cook’s father’s birthday.

Bruce Cook, OAM, was a former headmaster of The Southport School, a member of the CWS management committee and the deputy chairman of the National Trust of Australia (Qld) — the non-profit that owns the Sanctuary.

Amaze Education owner Lucy Cook with her father Bruce Cook, OAM, on the train at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on her wedding day. Mr Cook is Founding Chair and Trustee of the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Foundation

Amaze Education owner Lucy Cook with her father Bruce Cook at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on her wedding day. Mr Cook is Founding Chair and Trustee of the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Foundation

Dr Cook was also the founding chairman and trustee of the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Foundation, a place close to his daughter’s heart.

“The date was special because it’s my dad’s 77th birthday,” said Ms Cook.

“We chose Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary because all proceeds from events go back to the park. In lieu of gifts we asked guests to make a donation Hospital Foundation and think we’ve raised nearly $5000 to help sick animals and help native species thrive.

“The love we share on our wedding day is forever and so is extinction of native Australia wildlife.”

Amaze Education owner Lucy Cook with now husband Peter Schweizer and their 7 children at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on their wedding day.

On the morning of their wedding the pair celebrated the return of their beloved Parkrun, Ms Cook was wearing white at Mudgeeraba and Mr Schweizer was in Kirra with friends. Thankfully Mr Schweizer's best man was able to travel from the Blue Mountains in NSW to attend the event.

Owner of Amaze Education Lucy Cook doing the Mudgeeraba Parkrun on the morning of her wedding at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Lucy Cook and Peter Schweizer are just getting married at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Guests were ferried to the ceremony aboard the park’s iconic train and Mr Cook walked his daughter down the aisle with the couple’s seven children in attendance.

Framed photos of Mr Schweizer’s late parents sat pride of place on empty chairs and Ms Cook put the faces of her husband’s absent family members in charms that hung down from his corsage.

Also in attendance was a dingo, lizard, snake and an owl - with the happy couple feeding kangaroos after tying the knot.

Amaze Education owner and Gold Coaster Lucy Cook put seats at the front of her wedding ceremony with framed photos of her husband's late parents

Lucy Cook and Peter Schweizer at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Photo credit: Mitchell J Carlin Wedding Photographer