Douglas George Parbery was born in Bega NSW. He took his B.Sc.Ag at University of Sydney in 1958 and M.Agr.Sc(Plant Pathology) in 1961 at the University of Queensland where he also worked as a demonstrator in biology. He transferred to University of Melbourne in the Faculty of Science from 1962 until 1969. In 1970 he transferred to the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry where he was Dean for several years and retired in 1995 as Associate Professor. His specialty was Mycology and following his retirement he was appointed Senior Associate in Mycology and Plant Pathology.