My name is Lola Ryan, I am a Dharawal woman born in Sydney, and my family come from the La Perouse Aboriginal Community and lived on the La Perouse Aboriginal mission. I am the 9th child of 10 from parents Leslie Francis Ryan and Lola Delia Ryan (nee Page). Paternal Grandfather: Creswell Francis Ryan and Paternal Grandmother: Mabel Irene Ryan (nee Simms). Maternal Grandfather William John Page and Maternal Grandmother: Elizabeth Jane Page (nee Cooley).

My family was moved off the mission in 1968 after the Referendum in 1967 when our people were voted by the non-Aboriginal public to become citizens of our own country. The house was an Aboriginal Welfare Board house in Oorana Ave which was just up the road, I spent most of my life there, and my children still live there.

I married and had 3 children and now have 2 grandchildren. I became a single mother at the age of 31, 2 years after my 3rd child was born. That was when I wanted to work in job where I could make a difference for young Aboriginal families especially single parents as I knew what it was like to struggle.

I worked in factory jobs from the age of 15 until I was 25 years old and got the opportunity to work in my community of La Perouse as an Administration Officer for 20 years during that time I began to study Advanced Business, Business Planning and Accountancy at Tranby Aboriginal College in Glebe for 2 years. Then I became the Aboriginal Health Worker – Child and Family Health – South East Sydney Local Health District, a position I have held for 17 years and still working there.

I own my own home, something I am very proud of for my children to inherit so they won’t have to endure the struggles that I did. I am an artist and plan to retire soon so that I can enjoy my artwork, my mother and grandmother were shell work artists. I do some shell art but enjoy painting more.