Looking back on his time at the Manufacturing Plant, Graeme has always had a deep connection to the site due to his extensive family ties. The legacy traces back to Graeme’s Great Grandfather, in the late 1920s, who worked at the site as a Blacksmith, during this period horses and hand metal forgings were still required. Graeme’s grandfather also worked at the Hobart site in the “Cell Room” before World War II, when he received special leave to enlist in the military and later returned to the Zinc Works, retiring in 1971. Continuing the family tradition, Graeme's mother also lent her skills to the site during the late 1940s and 1950s, paving the way for Graeme himself to join in 1973.

Graeme initially began his career working in the Time Office (Pay Office), of what was then known as the Electrolytic Zinc Company. Throughout his career at Impact Fertilisers, Graeme has worked in various departments, including the main store, the computer room, and various other departments where he conducted stock takes and investigated discrepancies. Graeme describes the place as akin to a small town, complete with a general store, a dentist, and permanent ambulance, fire engine, and bus services. Additionally, they had cars to collect VIPs and transport them to the site. Graeme's first boss, Arthur Moles, became a close friend, and their friendship endured until Arthur's passing.

In 1983, Graeme transitioned to the fertiliser division, assuming an administrative and accounting position. His primary responsibilities involved providing management with cost reports and conducting account reconciliations. Furthermore, he played a key role in determining fertiliser prices and recommending sales prices. Graeme would meticulously analyse sales estimates to ascertain the required quantities of raw materials and trace elements. This period coincided with the introduction of computers, and Graeme fondly recalls creating spreadsheets, which proved to be far more convenient than calculators and ledgers. He also notes that the Electrolytic Zinc Company had a significant number of apprentices working across various departments, and employees could enlist their help to build items at discounted rates. Graeme even supplied blackwood to the carpentry department, which they crafted into a chest of drawers—an initiative the company viewed as broadening the apprentices' skill sets.