Lily Neville was born at Nepabunna, South Australia, in Adnyamathanha land, the third child and eldest daughter of Claude and Ethel Demell (nee Ryan). She has lived most of her life in Quorn, South Australia. Neville started translating work in the 1950s.
Her book Adnyamathanha Ngawarla is used for the Inhaadi Adnyamathanha Ngawarla language program run at Toundi College, South Australia. She is one of a few fluent Adnyamathanha speakers still living and she is a Supporting Elder for Inhaadi Adnyamathanha Ngawarla language course. Besides helping teach her language, Neville has been a foster parent for 12 children living in her home over a 40 year time period.
