The outstanding community work of Renee Garing and Stephanie Williams has been recognised with both being crowned the 2021 AFLW Carter Family Community Champions at Friday night’s Geelong Cats Best and Fairest event.

Garing, 32, and Williams, 19, have both displayed excellence and leadership with their commitment to community and furthering causes beyond the sphere of their football.

The Carter Family Community Champion Award is presented to the player/s that have provided outstanding commitment to community, both for the Geelong Cats and community organisations.

Garing, who has been the Cats’ AFLW face of its alcohol awareness program, Just Think, in recent years, has continued her stellar leadership in the community.

Despite balancing a busy schedule as AFLW player and high school teacher, Garing still looks for any opportunity she can to give back to the community.

She continues to volunteer with the Pretty Foundation, Salvation Army and the Fight Cancer Foundation, where she is an AFLW Footy Colours Day ambassador. She also threw her support behind the Barwon Health virtual Run 4 Geelong.

A member of the Cats’ player leadership group, Garing regularly looks for opportunities to help out and use her AFLW profile to support important causes, and embraces the chance to volunteer when opportunities arise.

“Renee’s commitment to the Geelong FC community is uplifting and inspiring,” Geelong head of AFLW Brett Johnson said.

“This commitment is in clear alignment with Renee’s personal values and beliefs. Her selflessness and acceptance of others sets a great example for everybody involved within our football program.”

Williams has made a big impression in her first year at the club, embracing the opportunity to show leadership and educate.

The 19-year-old was the face of the Geelong Cats’ inaugural AFLW Djilang Game, and working alongside those at the club and the AFL to promote the AFLW Indigenous Round and the Cats’ special guernsey.

Williams took the opportunity that week, and over the course of the season, to educate players and staff by sharing her personal experiences and stories.

“Since being drafted and joining our program late last year, Stephanie has had a profound positive impact on the Geelong FC community,” Johnson said.

“Stephanie’s strength and confidence in sharing her story and teaching everybody about indigenous culture has been truly inspiring.

“Stephanie’s ability to build positive, supportive and authentic relationships are the foundational building blocks to anything and everything she wants to achieve within the Geelong FC community.”