Mr Cross, who is also a farmer in the Indigo Valley, was among the five formal nominations received by the National Party for the upper house seat of Northern Victoria.

The other contenders are former state MP Paul Weller, state president Peter Schwarz, Nationals state leader Peter Walsh’s chief of staff Luke O'Sullivan and Bendigo-based Gaelle Broad.

The Nationals’ Indi candidate in the federal election, Marty Corboy, withdrew from the race last week.

Mr Corboy will be among the estimated 50 pre-selectors from the party that will determine Mr Drum’s successor.

Mr Drum beat Liberal Duncan McGauchie in Murray as the replacement for Dr Sharman Stone who retired on the eve of the election after 20 years in the Federal Parliament.

Mr Cross, 46, has managed the Alpine Health community care service for the last five years and is responsible for more than 50 staff and 600 clients.

“We live in really changing times and we need people with fresh ideas,” he said.

“I come from a science background originally before joining the military.”

Mr Cross was based at Latchford Barracks before serving in Timor and Bougainville.

“I am not a staffer, I am not an ex-pollie, but I engage with my community on a daily basis in an area which is really important,” Mr Cross said.

He has been a party member for three years.

Mr Weller held the former seat of Rodney in the Victorian Parliament from 2006 to 2014 before the electorate was abolished.

Mr O'Sullivan was the campaign manager for Mr Drum and Ms Broad is the manager of a Bendigo community radio station.

The pre-selection will take place in Melbourne on July 31.

Mr Drum entered the Victorian Parliament in 2002 after being dumped as coach of Fremantle Dockers a year earlier.

He was the sports and veterans affairs minister in the former Victorian Coalition government.