Lola Ryan grew up at La Perouse. Her family created artworks out of shells and sold the works in various places around Sydney. Ryan and her sister exhibited artworks and gave public demonstrations at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.
Lola Ryan won Elder Of The Year for her work looking after the children on the street. She won the Randwick Council Citizen of the Year Award in 2000 for her work visiting schools and jails. Ryan was one of the Elders who contributed to the books, La Perouse: The Place, People and the Sea and Talking La Perouse.
