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McLellan donated $150,000 to save great oak tree continued from p.1 origins, she felt that many others were also contributing at the best of their abilities to saving the Great Oak. But now that she is gone, her family, friends and I, and my colleagues, would like to acknowledge the love she showed Oakville in this and many other ways." 3 | Thursday, March 7, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com McLellan's friend Jim Young, who also worked to save the great oak tree, described McLellan as irreplaceable and someone whose skills allowed her to build her company from its modest beginnings into a successful worldwide corporation. "She was beautiful, both spiritually and physically. She was kind, she was generous, and I mean generous to a fault. She was always smiling and always taking photographs, she really delighted in that," said Young. "She delighted in her parties, which were famous here in Oakville. At the Worn Doorstep she threw what she called a Lilac Party in the spring and she threw a summer party and a Christmas party. They were always well attended and people were delighted to go and to be part of her life because she was just like a brilliant star... it was hard to think of that ever being extinguished." Young said he was answering phones as co-chair of the Woodlands Oak Tree Preservation Committee when he first heard from McLellan. At the time, in 2006, the Great Oak Tree was threatened by construction plans to widen Bronte Road. A scenario existed where the road could be widened while saving the tree, but at an added cost of $343,000. Citizens like Young, the late Joyce Burnell and others, were doing everything possible to raise the needed funds, but the goal was a steep one. "Meagan called me and said she'd like to make a donation... she said she'd like to match all the donations made up to $150,000," said Young. "At that point there was dead silence from me and Meagan McLellan she said, `Are you still there?' and I said, `Yes, I'm just picking myself up off the floor.'" At that point the campaign to save the tree had raised just under $30,000. Young said McLellan's promise served as an excellent motivator for more people to donate. In the end, McLellan donated the entire $150,000. Young, Burnell and McLellan met soon after that initial phone call and the group became good friends. Young learned McLellan had been born in England and had a deep love of trees, especially oak trees. He said she had decided to help save the tree after her brother drew her attention to an article about the campaign in a Toronto paper. However, McLellan did not stop with the donation. Young said McLellan actually prompted her assisFull Delivery: The great oak tree on Bronte Road just north of the QEW. Originally slated for removal to accommodate road widening, the tree was saved when funds were raised to redesign the road changes in order to keep the tree. | Oakville Beaver file photo tant Janet Jenkins-Apor, a former girlfriend of Prince Charles of Wales, to contact him and get him to call for the tree's protection. Prince Charles obliged. "He sent a letter from Buckingham Palace supporting preservation of the tree," said Young. "That hit the papers internationally and we got donations from as far away as India based on that publicity." The great oak tree was not the only landmark McLellan helped save. Young said McLellan poured a fortune into the restoration of one of Oakville's oldest heritage homes known as the Worn Doorstep. She resided there when she stayed in Oakville. She was a member of the board of Friends of the Oakville Historical Society and would throw parties to sponsor local events. McLellan passed away at Toronto General Hospital with her family at her side. 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