The qualified surgeon, general practitioner and skin cancer specialist, 52, will be forced to leave the country because she is too old to be granted permanent residency.

Horsham Mayor David Grimble said council would fight to keep Dr Guguila in Horsham.

"We will offer our support wherever we can I have spoken to Tony Bawden and the Wimmera Development Association," he said.

"One of things that we strive to do is attract skilled professional people to Horsham let's address it and keep a skilled doctor in the Wimmera."

More than 20 Wimmera residents took to the Mail-Times Facebook page to support Dr Guguila after a story appeared in Friday's newspaper.

Online reader Marianne Thomas, who was one of Dr Guguila's patients, said it was 'absolutely ridiculous' that she would be forced to leave when her visa expires in May 2014.

"Dr Mihaela accurately diagnosed my skin cancer, amongst the many others who she's saved," she wrote.

"We cry out for talented doctors and specialists and we get this amazing woman, and now she has to go, because she's too old?"