Interview with Matthew Wilson (WEST SIDE)

Matthew Wilson (33)

Diesel mechanic, Perth (AUS)

Matty is a happy-go-lucky diesel mechanic and ex-soldier. He works for a mining company and is used to being in the middle of nowhere.  Matty is charismatic, friendly and a highly-practical problem solver.

What made you want to take part in Apocalypse?

For me, it was every guy’s dream. I feel like every guy has this daydream of what they would do in the apocalypse. Everyone has some sort of plan they’ve run through in their head. For me it felt like preparation for potential future events.

Did you do anything to prepare before taking part?

I started learning about edible plants and watching other survival shows that Channel 4 and ITV had made. I was watching YouTube videos about survival and what people said you should do in the first few days if something went wrong. But the funny thing was, a lot of what I watched had absolutely nothing to do with what we actually did. Nothing really prepared me for it.

What skills were you confident you could bring to the group?

I was confident with anything technical, mechanical or engineering-related. I knew I could contribute by creating solutions to problems. That gave me purpose throughout the whole experience. I was able to create torches and lighting sources that we used every single night. I built them so they could work with batteries and switches, which meant we could carry lights around with us.

What was your first reaction arriving in the town?

We arrived quite late, close to nighttime. The first thing we really saw was an empty field, then we found the train station. My first thought was, “This place is huge and empty.” It looked like we were basically in farmland. I thought it was going to be really difficult to find supplies because there didn’t seem to be many buildings around.

What surprised you most about the group you were with?

The biggest surprise was how close we became. At the start, I wasn’t sure about some people. There were moments where I thought, “I don’t know how this is going to work.” But as time went on, we became really close. What surprised me was how quickly we could go from disagreeing completely to becoming like family.

At the same time, there were moments where different groups struggled to understand each other. I think a lot of it came down to different skill sets. It wasn’t necessarily about men and women, but more about people who had skills that translated and people who struggled to find their purpose.

For example, we had technical people who could fix things, build things and solve problems. Other people didn’t necessarily have those practical skills, so it was harder for them to find their role. The other team had people with different skills, and everyone contributed in different ways.

Were you shocked to discover there was another team?

Yes, I really was. Once we discovered there was another team, everything changed. It went from, “Let’s survive,” to, “We need to survive and we need to get everything before they do.” The competition started instantly. It’s just human instinct.

But the bigger shock was what it meant practically. It meant we couldn’t just take our time anymore. It wasn’t about waking up, exploring and slowly figuring things out. Suddenly it became, “We need to find things before they do.” The second we knew there was another team, the competition started.

What did you learn about yourself?

I learned that I’m more capable of standing up for myself than I realised. Before taking part in the show, I always thought I was someone who avoided conflict. I’d go along with things and not always speak up. But being in that environment showed me that when something really matters, I can put my foot down and say, “No, this is what needs to happen.”

Whether it was dealing with problems in the group, standing up for myself or having uncomfortable conversations, I realised I could do it. 

Has the experience changed how you view modern life and what we take for granted?

Absolutely. The biggest thing I took away was appreciating the little things.

Every morning, it took around 30 minutes just to make coffee because I had to crush the beans and boil the water. Then I’d sit down, do my Sudoku and drink it. I remember thinking, “When I get home, I’m never drinking coffee out of a takeaway cup again.”

Now, I always have it in a mug. I sit down, stay there and actually enjoy it. Apocalypse taught me to appreciate the journey instead of just rushing towards the destination.