A 50-year obsession leads to largest turtle collection record

It all started when Tania Murphy was five years old and refused to give her sister's stuffed toy turtle back.Now aged 55, Ms Murphy holds the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of turtle and tortoise-related items."It's amazing. It feels so good," she said.The turtle toy that started it all. (ABC Wide Bay: Grace Whiteside)She holds the record for 5,373 individual items in her Hervey Bay home, 300 kilometres north of Brisbane, and is still growing her collection.Ms Murphy said the achievement had "been a long time coming"."It became an obsession probably about 20 years ago, when somebody visited my home, saw all the turtle items all over my house and said, 'Oh, you should go for a Guinness World Record'," she said. Ms Murphy initially took the comment as a joke, but "it just exploded from there".Tania Murphy welcomes all sorts of turtle-related memorabilia. (ABC Wide Bay: Grace Whiteside)From a large wooden statue to tiny ceramic figurines, plates and glasses, artwork and soft toys, Ms Murphy welcomes all memorabilia.She collects them from her travels, op shops and garage sales."And people give them to me for birthdays, Christmases, or just because," she said."There's always room for more turtles."How do you achieve a Guinness World Record?There are 8.3 billion people in the world, and Guinness World Records holds records for 50,000 existing titles.One counter retains the Guinness World Record number. The other records Tania Murphy's current number of items. (ABC Wide Bay: Grace Whiteside)Ms Murphy said securing her title was an extensive process."Statistically, it is not easy," she said."Physically, emotionally and everything else, it's also not easy."Ms Murphy submitted an online application before photographing and categorising each item."You've got to create a database for every single item with a code, a description, what it's made of, the photo," she said.Tania Murphy is planning to open her collection for public viewing. (ABC Wide Bay: Grace Whiteside)Independent witnesses conducted and verified the counting process."My two witnesses spent approximately 17 hours counting items on video," Ms Murphy said."I think in total I submitted close to 6,000 files, and then had to wait three months."A Guinness World Records spokesperson confirmed Ms Murphy had achieved the record."Tania's collection is a wonderful example of how a personal passion can become something truly extraordinary," a statement said.The collection holds items from all over the world. (ABC Wide Bay: Grace Whiteside)Ms Murphy was now aiming to collect 10,000 items, and had plans to open her collection, which was permanently stored in her double garage, to the public."I've set it up like a museum, and I will be opening up for visitors to come, only by appointment," she said."It's a free thing and I look forward to being able to share the entire collection with everyone."