For Wendy Leatheam, every bear has a story. Her home is a treasure trove of memories, with shelves lined with teddy bears from all over the world.

Some were gifts, some found in second-hand shops, and others stumbled upon in unexpected places, each carrying its own tale.

“I saw this little bear in a second hand shop in Swan Hill,” Wendy recalls, picking up a well-loved teddy. “I was the first female president of the Minnamurra Rotary Club and the bear was a mascot for a Rotary conference in 1990.

When I saw it, I thought, ‘I have to have that.”

Her collection has grown over the years, filling corners and cabinets, each bear a reminder of a moment, a place, or a person.

But like many collectors, Wendy faces a question she’s not quite sure how to answer: What do you do with a lifetime of collections when you need to downsize?

Wendy is not alone in her passion. People collect everything from stamps to books, lawnmowers to snow cones and spoons .

Collecting can be nostalgic, a connection to childhood, or a way of preserving history. “I once set up a display of my bears at the Kiama Library,” Wendy says. “I labelled each one with where it came from, its name, and its story. The kids loved it.”

She reflects on how collections can take on a life of their own. “You think you’re just adding one or two, and then suddenly, they seem to multiply. They breed, I swear!” she laughs.

Among her collection is a Swarovski bear, a lavender bear from New Zealand, a Highland bear from Scotland, and a Rupert Bear tied to her love of children’s books.

“Then there’s Mozart,” she says, holding up a small bear dressed in a black t-shirt. “I bought him in Salzburg, and he’s travelled with me ever since, peeking out of my bag in London, Paris, and beyond.”

At 78, Wendy knows the time will come when decisions must be made. “You become very aware of time passing so quickly as you age,” she says. “But I’m still young at heart!”

She’s seen both extremes. “Some people’s homes are pristine, not a thing out of place. Others, like mine, are full of stories.

When visitors come in, they look around and ask, ‘What are you going to do with all this stuff?’ And honestly, I don’t know.”

For collectors, letting go can be difficult. Some donate their collections to museums or libraries; others pass them on to family or fellow enthusiasts.

Wendy has considered gifting some of her bears but admits it’s hard to part with them. “Each one has a history. You don’t just get rid of history.”

For now, they remain at home, carefully placed in their familiar spots, waiting for their next adventure.

And perhaps, when the time comes, they’ll find new homes where their stories can continue.

Do you have a collection with a story? How do you plan to pass it on?