 In 1965 he joined the Victoria Police Force's Criminal Investigation Branch, qualifying as a detective.He left the police force in 1982 to open a newsagency in Golden Square, which he owned until 1990.Turner was active in the local community as Secretary of the Golden Square Retail Traders Association (1983–90), President of the Kangaroo Flat Rotary Club (1991–92), and President of the Victorian Authorised Newsagents Bendigo Region.