Born in Mirboo North, Victoria, he was educated at Scotch College before becoming a farmer, alpine tourism operator and newspaper proprietor.
Graeme was heavily involved in the fight to retain Alpine grazing and during the 1980's organized several large protests and rallies.
The bitter fall out from that event culminated in him being summoned to the Bar of the Legislative Council to explain the Cattlemen's involvement in the Byelection.
In a tumultuous day the numbers to actually invite him to appear the bar were lost and he was left standing in Queens Hall.
In 1992 Graeme was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council as the Liberal member for Central Highlands Province.