Roy Heferen
Encyclopedia
Stephen Roy Heferen was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1941 until 1950. During his parliamentary career he was a member of the Australian Labor Party
(ALP) but sat as an Independent Labor member between March and May 1950.
. He was the son of a farmer, and after an elementary education at Moree Superior Public School worked as butcher's boy and shearer. He was a foreman with the New South Wales Government Railways
between 1922 and 1926. Heferen became a wheat farmer after buying land on the Boggabilla-Camurra Railway line at Croppa Creek near Moree. He was active in local community organizations including the Aboriginal Protection Board
, the Wheat Growers Association and the Farmers and Settlers Association
member, Ben Wade
, who unsuccessfully contested the federal seat of Gwydir
at the 1940
election. Heferen's success in a usually safe Country party seat presaged Labor's strong showing in rural electorates at the general election held the next year
. The rural successes of Labor at that election enabled the party to return to government under William McKell
after a 9 year period in opposition. Heferen retained Barwon at the next 3 elections with diminishing success. At the 1947
election he defeated the Country party's Geoff Crawford
by 42 votes (0.15%). He did not hold party, parliamentary or ministerial office.
resigned from the Legislative Council
to successfully contest the federal seat of Blaxland
at the 1949
election. His successor was due to be elected at a joint sitting of the two houses of parliament on March 22 1950. While the election was by secret ballot, each Labor member of the parliament had a unique how- to-vote card and Labor scrutineers were able to determine if a member had broken caucus solidarity and voted against the endorsed Labor candidate. On the day of the election, Mr Asher Joel
, a wealthy Sydney businessman was a surprise nomination against Labor's Mr James Thom. Joel was unsuccessful but received 23 votes and it became common knowledge within the Labor Party, although never officially stated, that 4 members of the party; Heferen, John Seiffert
(Monaro
), Fred Stanley
(Lakemba
) and James Geraghty
(North Sydney
) had voted for him. There were also unproven rumours that they had received cash payments for their votes. The state executive of the Labor Party responded by withholding the endorsement for these candidates at the 1950
election. Heferen and the other disendorsed members received support from the Caucus and a severe rift developed between the parliamentary and extra-parliamentary parties. This was a major contribution to Labor's poor showing at the election. Heferen spent the rest of the term as an Independent Labor member. He unsuccessfully contested the election Independent Labor candidate and was defeated by Geoff Crawford. He then retired from public life.
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
from 1941 until 1950. During his parliamentary career he was a member of the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
(ALP) but sat as an Independent Labor member between March and May 1950.
Early life
Heferen was born in Coonabarabran, New South WalesCoonabarabran, New South Wales
Coonabarabran is a town in Warrumbungle Shire in northern New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, the town had a population of 2,609.-History and description:...
. He was the son of a farmer, and after an elementary education at Moree Superior Public School worked as butcher's boy and shearer. He was a foreman with the New South Wales Government Railways
New South Wales Government Railways
The New South Wales Government Railways was the government department that operated the New South Wales Government's railways until the establishment of the Public Transport Commission in 1972. Although later known officially as the Department of Railways, New South Wales, it was still generally...
between 1922 and 1926. Heferen became a wheat farmer after buying land on the Boggabilla-Camurra Railway line at Croppa Creek near Moree. He was active in local community organizations including the Aboriginal Protection Board
Aboriginal Protection Board
There was an Aboriginal Protection Board in a number of Australian States with the function of "protecting" and regulating the lives of Indigenous Australians. They were also responsible for administering the various Half-caste acts where these existed and had a key role in the Stolen generations...
, the Wheat Growers Association and the Farmers and Settlers Association
State parliament
Heferen's was elected to the New South Wales Parliament as the Labor member for the seat of Barwon at the 1940 by-election caused by the resignation of the incumbent Country PartyNational Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
member, Ben Wade
Ben Wade (politician)
Benjamin Martin "Ben" Wade was an Australian politician.Born at Tenterden to grazier William Martin Wade and Ann Hogan, he attended school at Tenterden and Inverell before finding work at the Lands Department in Narrabri. He married Bertha Matilda Oberle on 17 April 1917, with whom he had three...
, who unsuccessfully contested the federal seat of Gwydir
Division of Gwydir
The Division of Gwydir was an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election...
at the 1940
Australian federal election, 1940
Federal elections were held in Australia on 21 September 1940. All 74 seats in the House of Representatives, and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election...
election. Heferen's success in a usually safe Country party seat presaged Labor's strong showing in rural electorates at the general election held the next year
New South Wales state election, 1941
The 1941 New South Wales state election was held on 10 May 1941. This election was for all of the 90 seats in the 33nd New South Wales Legislative Assembly and was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting....
. The rural successes of Labor at that election enabled the party to return to government under William McKell
William McKell
Sir William John McKell GCMG , Australian politician, was Premier of New South Wales from 1941 to 1947, and was the 12th Governor-General of Australia. He was also the oldest Governor General of Australia, at 93 when he died....
after a 9 year period in opposition. Heferen retained Barwon at the next 3 elections with diminishing success. At the 1947
New South Wales state election, 1947
The 1947 New South Wales state election was held on 3 May 1947. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1940 redistribution...
election he defeated the Country party's Geoff Crawford
Geoff Crawford
Geoffrey Robertson Crawford was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1950 until 1976 . He was a member of the Country Party and Minister for Agriculture from 1968 until 1975.Crawford was born in Inverell, New South Wales and educated at a...
by 42 votes (0.15%). He did not hold party, parliamentary or ministerial office.
Resignation from the Labor Party
In November 1949, Eli HarrisonJames Harrison (Australian politician)
Eli James Harrison was an Australian politician. Born in Port Macquarie, New South Wales to farmer William Binney and Sophia Selina Turnbull, he was educated at state schools. He then worked on a dairy farm before joining New South Wales Railways in 1925...
resigned from the Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
to successfully contest the federal seat of Blaxland
Division of Blaxland
The Division of Blaxland is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. It is based in the western suburbs of Sydney, and includes the working-class suburbs of Bass Hill, Birrong, Carramar, Chester Hill, Condell Park, Fairfield East, Georges Hall, Guildford West, Old Guildford,...
at the 1949
Australian federal election, 1949
Federal elections were held in Australia on 10 December 1949. All 121 seats in the House of Representatives, and 42 of the 60 seats in the Senate were up for election, where the single transferable vote was introduced...
election. His successor was due to be elected at a joint sitting of the two houses of parliament on March 22 1950. While the election was by secret ballot, each Labor member of the parliament had a unique how- to-vote card and Labor scrutineers were able to determine if a member had broken caucus solidarity and voted against the endorsed Labor candidate. On the day of the election, Mr Asher Joel
Asher Joel
Sir Asher Alexander Joel KBE, AO was an Australian public figure and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council for 20 years...
, a wealthy Sydney businessman was a surprise nomination against Labor's Mr James Thom. Joel was unsuccessful but received 23 votes and it became common knowledge within the Labor Party, although never officially stated, that 4 members of the party; Heferen, John Seiffert
John Seiffert
John Wesley Seiffert was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1941 until his death in 1965...
(Monaro
Electoral district of Monaro
Monaro is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by John Barilaro of the National Party of Australia....
), Fred Stanley
Fred Stanley (politician)
Fred Stanley was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1927 until 1950...
(Lakemba
Electoral district of Lakemba
Lakemba is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales in Sydney's Inner West. It has been held by the Australian Labor Party since its creation in 1927...
) and James Geraghty
James Geraghty
James Leo Geraghty was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1941 until 1953. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party until 1950 and then sat as an Independent Labor member .-Early life:Geraghty was born in Parramatta, New South Wales...
(North Sydney
Electoral district of North Sydney
North Sydney was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. Created in 1927, it replaced part of the multi-member electorate of North Shore, and was named after and included the Sydney suburb of North Sydney. It was abolished in 1962 and partly...
) had voted for him. There were also unproven rumours that they had received cash payments for their votes. The state executive of the Labor Party responded by withholding the endorsement for these candidates at the 1950
New South Wales state election, 1950
The 1950 New South Wales State state election was held on 17 June 1950. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1949 redistribution...
election. Heferen and the other disendorsed members received support from the Caucus and a severe rift developed between the parliamentary and extra-parliamentary parties. This was a major contribution to Labor's poor showing at the election. Heferen spent the rest of the term as an Independent Labor member. He unsuccessfully contested the election Independent Labor candidate and was defeated by Geoff Crawford. He then retired from public life.