tatra was one of the largest makers of soft leather goods in australasia by the mid 1960s and in 1966 was a government export award in 1966. turnovsky represented the new zealand manufacturers federation at the national development conference (1968–69) and was its president(1972–73 and 1979–80). he was appointed to the manufacturing development council, was a member of trade missions to pacific states (1971) and china (1973). he led a delegation of manufacturers to canberra (1973), and was honorary consul for mexico (1973–81).