Lorraine Ovington graduated from the University of Tasmania and was a campaigner for Aboriginal rights. She lived in New Caledonia and Vanuatu when her husband Michael Ovington became the first Australian High Commissioner to Vanuatu (formerly New Hebrides) after its independence.

Michael Robin Ovington was the Australian Consul (Consul d'Australie in French) in Noumea from 1978 to 1980, prior to Vanuatu's independence in 1980. On 31 July 1980 he took up office as the first Australian High Commissioner to Vanuatu. Ovington died in Canberra in June 2006.