He was the son of a farmer, and after an elementary education at Moree Superior Public School worked as butcher's boy and shearer.
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.
[1] In November 1949, Jim Harrison resigned from the Legislative Council to successfully contest the federal seat of Blaxland at the 1949 election.
On the day of the election, Asher Joel, a wealthy Sydney businessman, was a surprise nomination against Labor's James Thom.
However, Heferen and the other disendorsed members received support from the Caucus, and a severe rift developed between the parliamentary and extra-parliamentary parties, which was a major contributor to Labor's poor showing at the 1950 election.