Bill Sykes was the Nationals member for Benalla from 2002 to 2014 in the Victorian parliament after being a government veterinarian and beef and sheep farmer.

Mr Clancy said after his election at the weekend that he planned to continue to do some veterinary work at his Border practice to "keep my feet on the ground".

Dr Sykes said from his own experience of the demands of being an MP he believed that could be difficult.

"It's not for me to tell other people how they live their lives," Dr Sykes said.

"However, when I was considering contesting politics I asked Peter Ryan, the leader of the Nationals, how much time was involved in politics because I wanted to run my farm.

"He said it would be three-quarters of a full-time equivalent job and I thought three to four days as an MP, one to two days on the farm and have a bit of time off.

"It didn't work out that way, being an MP is a 60 to 80 hours a week job because Peter Ryan worked 100 hours a week.

"I would say to the incoming fellow 'good idea', however he may well find it's very difficult to keep his hand in as vet because he has to work 60 to 80 hours.

"It's a real challenge because people rightly expect you as the local member to be out and about.

"Then you need to do background work and the hard yards to take up the causes of people.

"I wish him luck."