About Us

A Royally Dickey Adventure is Us.... Paul (Dickey) Meehan & myself, Kylie Royal (Royally). An Aussie couple finding the best way we can to enjoy life and embark on plenty of adventure’s along the way. Dickey is confined to a wheelchair, following an accident in 2005 and while it throws plenty of challenges his way, he is determined to find ways to get on with the adventure that is our life. 

Together since February 2013, sharing wicked senses of humor and spending an incredible amount of time laughing, our life has become our 'Adventure'. Trying to maximize opportunities, look at life from a different angle, toughen a sometimes sensitive exterior and being content to enter buildings via the loading bay on many an occasion. 

What we aim to share is our story together, namely our recent 'Royally Dickey European Adventure'. But from here we are happy to let it flow. To share our loves, laughs, challenges and perhaps even tears. We know there are other couples out there who are in the same boat as us and we hope that this blog will reach out to you. To empathize, inspire, give courage and an opportunity to connect. 

A brief history of K Royal

An Emergency Communications Shift worker and fitness enthusiast I am the type of person who is always on the go. I love a challenge and being outdoors and everything in my life seems to reflect this. Based in Melbourne since 2008 I have discovered a love for mountain biking, triathlon, great coffee, Australian Rules Football, a good crisp Pinot Gris and Ugg boots - worn inside the house only!!

Prior to '08 I traveled and worked around the top end and in Canberra, exploring our amazing country before embarking on my 'big o/s trip'. At 26 when fear of missing out on the supposed 'right of passage UK working holiday visa' was becoming front of mind I packed up and jetted over the seas to Liverpool, UK. Bunking in with an English friend from my Canberra days I learnt just how cold, wet and depressing the 'great land' can be and that when the sun comes out and it is over 18o it does actually feel appropriate to sunbathe in the local park! 

With a couple of amazing quick trips to Europe during this time, I secured the ultimate travel job, working on-board a Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship in the gym. What a way to see the edges of the world!! For the 18 years prior to starting in Emergency Services I was an Exercise Physiologist, personal trainer and fitness facility manager. I still have my passion for the health and fitness industry and continue to teach classes as well as present on health and home fitness tips for corporate groups in my spare time.   

A Dickey Tale 

Earning the nickname of Dickey (aka Dickey knee) in grade four gives an indication of just what sort of a kid Paul was. For those not familiar with this TV icon - Dickey knee was a character on the hit TV show Hey Hey It's Saturday during the 80's & 90's.

A blue capped head on a stick that popped up every so often with smart arse comments before disappearing again. From all reports Paul, was just the same. The nickname has stuck and at 40 many friends only know him as Dickey and believe his first name is actually Richard. He rarely has the heart to correct them!!

Fire fighter, Surf-lifesaver, Ironman triathlete and sub three hour marathon runner (2.48hr PB!), Dickey had it all. Single, carefree, travelling to exquisite locations around the world. He was alive and making the most of every chance he was given. Life was good. Then it changed.

Having recently returned from the Hawaii Ironman World Championships in Kona he was taking a break from full training and spending time catching up with mates, neglected while he had worked full time as well as trained 30+ hours per week prior to the World Champs. On his fateful day he had finished a 'social run of sand dune hill sprints' and then headed off to the Portsea Polo for an afternoon with his surf club mates. Mates that later that day saved his life. 

There is no doubting that Dickey had pushed the limits on many an occasion, but there are few men I know that haven't! Sadly for him a flip on a deflating blow up slide at the Portsea Polo proved to be his undoing and from that fateful day on his life changed.  

Confined to a wheelchair as an incomplete quadriplegic Dickey has proven that though life may start out on one path, there are many directions it can take to still lead towards happily ever after. True there are hurdles, and I am in no way discounting the numerous challenges and frustrations he faces but he is testament to not letting set backs get you down or put you off. 

No he didn't continue on and become a para-Olympian like many thought he would and pushed him to do. Instead he has focused on long term, life goals. Remaining as independent as possible, which at his level of injury is incredible in itself. Maintaining a huge number of friendships, a true testament to the person he is and was pre-accident. And he has also been committed to returning to work full time and recently passed the promotional course to become a Station Officer for the Metropolitan Fire-brigade (Melbourne, Australia) working in Operations Improvement.  

Dickey does motivational presentations, mostly to secondary school groups with a focus on the power of goal setting. Not only does he use these skills to help inspire others, but together we use them to help us progress forward as a couple as well as individuals. To help us remember that the path may now have more obstacles on it, but there is still a way to get to the prize.