People in Southern Inland NSW have been touched by the story of the Bloom family and their magpie, Penguin.
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Cam and his wife Sam Bloom were recently in Bowral promoting their book Penguin Bloom: The Odd Little Bird Who Saved a Family, which tells the story of how a baby magpie helped Sam through the darkest struggle of her life.
Sam fell from a balcony in Thailand on a holiday in 2013. As a result, she was paralysed. At the time, her three sons were 11, 10 and eight years old.
Cam said Sam was an incredibly active person, who loved surfing and mountain biking.
“She basically lost all independence,” he said.
“When Penguin arrived, Sam was at her lowest point. Penguin had been injured after she had fallen out of the nest, and we looked after her.”
Penguin was named by Cam and Sam’s children, as she had big feet. She became part of the family, running down the hall, talking with the boys and singing in the house.
“She was like a pet dog,” Cam said.
But it was her relationship with Sam that was most special.
“Penguin was a companion for Sam when the kids were at school, and I was at work,” Cam said.
“She was her beautiful soulmate. She would often sit on Sam’s shoulder or head, and Sam would talk to her. Penguin was always a good listener.”
Penguin was always free to leave, but she continually came back to spend time with the family.
Over the course of her stay with the Blooms, Cam took about 2000 pictures of the bird, which helped form the arc of the book. Cam and Sam were interviewed by writer Bradley Trevor Grieve for five months for the book, and he also used the photographs.
“It’s also a love story of Sam overcoming terrible adversity through the love of family and friends, and this bird.
- Cameron Bloom
Cam described Sam’s story as one of tragedy and resilience, with Penguin as the vessel.
“It’s also a love story of Sam overcoming terrible adversity through the love of family and friends, and this bird.”
The book has been noticed by actress Naomi Watts, who will play Sam in the proposed movie-adaptation, and Reese Witherspoon.
Ten per cent of proceeds from Penguin Bloom sales go to help people with life-changing injuries.
The Bloom family are currently looking after two new magpies, Panda and Puffin.
You can follow their adventures and explorations on Instagram by searching ‘penguinthemagpie’.
