A flow control apparatus , configurable in at least a closed configuration and a production configuration, comprising: a housing including a housing passage and a flow communicator for effecting flow communication between an environment external to the housing and the housing passage; a flow controller for controlling flow communication, via the flow communicator, between the housing passage and the external environment, including: a filter medium-defining counterpart defining a filter medium ; and a shroud-defining counterpart defining a shroud ; characterized in that : while the flow control apparatus is disposed in the closed configuration, the flow communicator and the flow controller are co-operatively disposed such that the flow communicator is disposed in a closed condition, and the filter medium-defining counterpart and the shroud-defining counterpart are co-operatively disposed such that the shroud shields the filter medium from material within the housing passage; and while the flow control apparatus is disposed in the production configuration, the flow communicator and the flow controller are co-operatively disposed such that flow communication, via the filter medium, is effected between the external environment and the housing passage. a housing including a housing passage and a flow communicator for effecting flow communication between an environment external to the housing and the housing passage; a flow controller for controlling flow communication, via the flow communicator, between the housing passage and the external environment, including: a filter medium-defining counterpart defining a filter medium ; and a shroud-defining counterpart defining a shroud ; a filter medium-defining counterpart defining a filter medium ; and a shroud-defining counterpart defining a shroud ; characterized in that : while the flow control apparatus is disposed in the closed configuration, the flow communicator and the flow controller are co-operatively disposed such that the flow communicator is disposed in a closed condition, and the filter medium-defining counterpart and the shroud-defining counterpart are co-operatively disposed such that the shroud shields the filter medium from material within the housing passage; and while the flow control apparatus is disposed in the production configuration, the flow communicator and the flow controller are co-operatively disposed such that flow communication, via the filter medium, is effected between the external environment and the housing passage. while the flow control apparatus is disposed in the closed configuration, the flow communicator and the flow controller are co-operatively disposed such that the flow communicator is disposed in a closed condition, and the filter medium-defining counterpart and the shroud-defining counterpart are co-operatively disposed such that the shroud shields the filter medium from material within the housing passage; and while the flow control apparatus is disposed in the production configuration, the flow communicator and the flow controller are co-operatively disposed such that flow communication, via the filter medium, is effected between the external environment and the housing passage. <EOS>