Claude MacFayden’s father was an Irish immigrant from Enniskillen who settled in the gold field area near Bendemeer on the Northern Tablelands of NSW.
After the gold rush Claude’s family and many of his twelve siblings stayed in the Bendemeer and Uralla district and worked on some of the large sheep runs which was the major industry and employer of the region.
Claude MacFayden, and his elder brother, Ernest Edward MacFayden made their way to Sydney in the early 1900’s The MacFayden brothers settled into Sydney’s Western Suburbs, becoming involved in both rugby union and rugby league.
Ern MacFayden became a highly regarded administrator with Wests from the early days until well into the 1930’s.